The airport mourns the loss of a seasoned pilot and a truly remarkable person on March 4 of this year. For those who knew him, it is poignantly fitting—and deeply felt—that he passed away near his “happy place,” doing what he loved most.

Chester Wojnicki was an American success story, having grown up without much in a one-room home in Poland together with his parents and brothers. As a young boy he watched planes occasionally soar over his home and dreamed of being able to fly himself one day. After emigrating to the U.S., he applied his sharp engineering mind in electrical trade school and eventually started his own successful electrical and HVAC business.

According to Chester’s daughter, Renata, before he learned to fly, he loved flying electric planes in public parks with other enthusiasts. He often brought Renata and her sister Beata along. It was one of Renata’s favorite memories and she recalls the joy on his face as he made plans to soar above the skies.

Renata remembers her dad when he talked about the joys of flying and how his pure passion truly created an adventure every time, he took his daughters and grandchildren up for a ride. These are some of her most cherished memories and she wishes he had more time to share those experiences with his beloved grandchildren.

His love of the Chicago Executive Airport, which he said would always remain ‘Palwaukee’ in his heart, began in the 1980’s when he attended flight school there, just a short drive from his Mt. Prospect home. Once he completed training, the required flight hours, and was able to fly solo, he purchased his first plane, a Cessna.  Some days he enjoyed just sitting in the cockpit on the ground with family members, explaining how everything worked.

Some years later he purchased the plane, a Cessna T210, that he passed in. He lovingly cared for it and enjoyed tinkering on it, always finding something to improve. Some recall him joking that although he was happily married to Halina for 53 years, his first wife was his plane.

We lost a true member of the CEA community this year. According to Renata, her dad truly found ‘his people’ at the airport. Chester was not one to brag, but he was very proud of the associations he made here and the work being done at the CEA.

Jay Trivedi was a close airport pal of Chester’s. In 2019 Jay bought his first plane and parked it next to Chester’s for several years. Jay recalls a deal he and Chester made to always keep an eye on each other’s plane. Very willing to share his talents, whenever Jay’s plane needed attending to, Chester often pulled out his toolbox and invited Jay to watch and learn while he fixed it. Jay admired Chester’s easy mechanical fluency. The friends enjoyed flying together to purchase gas when they found a lower price somewhere. Along the way they shared stories of flying and life.

Jay recalls Chester often speaking of his family and how much he loved his wife. He also remembers his joyous, gregarious laugh that could be heard from far away. As Jay recently said, “As pilots, every time we enter the cock pit, we accept the risk. But when it happens, it hurts.”

Chester was a devoted member of the Civil Air Patrol, a role he took very seriously. In that capacity, he enjoyed helping young squadron members especially at the annual Run the Runway event. Also very willing, just last year, Chester donated money to the CEA Civil Air Patrol squadron for the cadet’s academic program which allowed several young men to attend training.

There are stories about Chester’s character too numerous to count.

Our friend will be remembered for his skill as a pilot, his willingness to help others, his honesty, humor, and ‘no b.s.’ attitude that made us smile.

Thank you, Chester, for making Chicago Executive Airport your second home. Thank you to Halina, Beata, Renata, and the rest of your family and friends, for sharing him with us.