George Kwiatkowski, 91; 'Mr. Democrat' ...
Bill Schenley
FROM: The Erie Times-News ~
By George Miller
George Kwiatkowski, known as "Mr. Democrat"
and for his antique cars, died about noon Monday
at Hamot Medical Center.
He had been hospitalized there after being found
hypothermic in his car on Jan. 22.
Kwiatkowski, 91, most likely died of complications
from hypothermia, but no final ruling has been made,
Erie County Coroner Lyell Cook said.
"From what we do know, there was no evidence of
foul play," he said. "There was no sign he was beaten."
Cook said he will be getting hospital records and
talking to Millcreek Township police, who investigated
the hypothermia case, before making a final ruling.
Kwiatkowski was discovered about noon in his car in
front of his antique-car business at 2764 W. 12th St.
His body temperature was 88 degrees. The normal
body temperature is 98.6 degrees.
Millcreek Township Lt. Michael Tesore said police
don't know the circumstances of how Kwiatkowski
got into his car and whether he possibly fell on the
ice and pulled himself into the vehicle.
"There aren't any witnesses," he said.
Tesore said Kwiatkowski was last seen the morning of
Jan. 20 at another location, leading police to believe he
had been in the car since about noon that day, or about
48 hours.
The car was not running at the time, and the battery was
dead, he said.
Tesore said the investigation found nothing to indicate
foul play or criminal activity.
Kwiatkowski's death was mourned by top local
Democratic figures.
"He was a loyal Democrat," said Ian Murray, former
chairman of the county Democratic Party. "He lived,
he ate and he slept Democratic politics for the last 30
years. He was tireless."
He recalled how Kwiatkowski drove his antique cars
in local parades and other events, and how
Democratic candidates sought to ride with him.
"It was quite a competition," he said.
Among those who rode in one of his cars was
Gov. Ed Rendell.
City Controller Casimir Kwitowski said Kwiatkowski
was also active in the East Side Federation of Clubs.
"We liked to call him 'Mr. Democrat,'" said
Kwitowski, federation president. "He never gave up
his zeal for politics. He was active to the day he
died."
Cathi Zelazny, current county Democratic Party
chairman, said she had just recently notified
Kwiatkowski of the party's executive board meeting
scheduled for Saturday.
"He said, 'I'll be there, don't worry,'" she said.
"He came to every committee meeting, he came to
every ward meeting. He was always out there
working. He was a very proud Democrat. His cars
and his Democrat (activities) are what kept him
alive."
Former Erie Mayor Joyce Savocchio said she had
known Kwiatkowski since the early 1980s.
"He's a legend on the political scene," she said.
"He was passionate about politics. I think he's going
to be very, very missed."
Kwiatkowski, a lifelong Erie resident, was a retired
General Electric Co. employee and a former city
housing inspector.
He was a longtime chairman of the Democratic
5th Ward Committee, a member of the Erie Sewer
Authority and was on the Erie Officers and
Employees Retirement Board.
The Carl A. Slomski & Son Funeral Home, 2101
Ash St., is in charge of arrangements, which are
incomplete.