Memorable Manitobans: Chester Steven “Chet” Tesarowski (1935-2008)

Educator.

Born at Calder, Saskatchewan on 23 November 1935, son of Antonette and Steven Tesarowski, he attended St. Joseph’s College (Yorkton), the University of North Dakota, Brandon University and the University of Manitoba. He taught school in the Northwest Territories and at Virden School, McCreary School, Deloraine School (1968-1971), and Swan River School. He worked for the Canadian Government in Sarawak, Malaysia in developing a model secondary school. In 1971, he joined the Manitoba Department of Education where he was instrumental in revitalizing the correspondence school.

He spent 25 years with the Lions, being instrumental in starting the Lions Eye Bank of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario. He received the Premier’s award for this project. He was also instrumental in starting the Evergreen Foundation and the Frontier School Division Foundation. He excelled in fastball pitching and played in many North Dakota State and Manitoba tournaments. He also coached the Deloraine Hartney Juveniles to a provincial hockey championship and was a member of the Horton Men’s Provincial Championship team. After his retirement, he served as School Trustee for the Evergreen School Division.

He founded The Friends of Mexico, an organization of Canadians and Americans in Mazatlan to assist children to attend school, and was its first president, in 1999. He wrote the book Preserving Treasury of Recipes.

He died on 18 February 2008 while on vacation in Mazatlan, Mexico, and was buried at Yorkton, Saskatchewan.

Sources:

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 23 February 2008.

“Manitobans’ Legacy a Better Province,” Winnipeg Free Press, 4 January 2009, page B2.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 30 March 2016

Memorable Manitobans This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations. Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text: Custom Search Browse surnames beginning with: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z Browse deaths occurring in: 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Send corrections and additions to this page to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca Criteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements Help us keep history alive!