Chester "Chet" Stanley Kucinski

Chester Stanley Kucinski Jr., 75, of Greensboro, NC died on February 6 after a long illness. Chet passed away surrounded by his loving family. He was courageous and strong-willed in the many health challenges he faced, especially these past few months.

Born and raised in Scranton, PA, Chet came from a proud and hardworking Polish family who instilled in him a strong work ethic and a deep love and appreciation for his family. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Scranton and went on to build a successful and fulfilling career in the field of manufacturing. His first accomplishment was being part of the startup crew that built from the ground up the GNB plant in Dunmore, Pa. where he was superintendent at age 29. His career culminated with one of his biggest professional accomplishments: Leading the creation of a new state-of-the-art film processing laboratory as VP of Operations at Technicolor in Hollywood, Calif.

Chet had a way with people and found great fulfillment in mentoring others in their professional and personal lives. Chet always said “there’s no substitute for work,” but after he retired, he found a new purpose in volunteering for the Read With Me program at Saul Martinez Elementary School in Mecca, Calif, where he was fondly known as Mr. Chet by his beloved students.

Chet was a proud Navy veteran (1968-1972), who loved sharing stories about his Naval adventures and the many places he traveled. At age 18, he met the love of his life, Arlene Grzebin, while weighing bananas as a stock boy at the ACME grocery store. They enjoyed a beautiful marriage of 52 years and raised three daughters. Chet was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather, who treasured all four of his girls and two grandsons.

What brought Chet joy was being with his family, gathered around the dinner table, sharing stories over a good Zin or Irish Coffee. He was a gifted carpenter who loved to spend his Saturdays involved in his latest home improvement project. Chet enjoyed the simple things in life: sitting in the sun with a cup of coffee, surf fishing in the quiet early morning, a sentimental lyric in a song, a slow dance with his wife.

Chet was known for his quick wit, his brilliant and beautiful mind and his tender heart. He is and always will be the strongest and bravest person his family has known.

Chet is survived by his wife Arlene Kucinski; three daughters Amanda Barker, Gina Kucinski and Carla Kucinski; two grandsons Aiden and Dylan Barker; sister Christine Schweitzer and husband Gene Schweitzer; brother-in-law Edward “Butch” Grzebin and wife Kathy Grzebin; sons-in-law Dennis Barker, Marco Varisco and Andrew Brown; numerous cousins, nephews and a niece; and beloved grandpets Simon and Faith. He was preceded in death by father Chester Stanley Kucinski Sr. and mother Lydia Kucinski.

The family would like to thank Chet’s caregivers, nurses and physicians who cared for him through the years, especially the incredible and compassionate care he and the family received at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist High Point Medical Center and Hospice of the Piedmont.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be he held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 10, 2023 at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in High Point, NC officiated by Father Baiju Paul O.S.F.S. The family will receive friends at the church from 10:00 a.m. until service time.

In honor of Chester, please consider making a charitable donation to the Read With Me Volunteer Program. Contributions to Read With Me can be made online at: https://www.readwithmevolunteers.com/become-a-contributor. Please send an email to [email protected] specifying Saul Martinez Elementary School/in memory of Chet Kucinski.