Judge William C. Bieluch Obituary

Judge William C. Bieluch, of West Hartford, beloved and devoted husband of Pauline O'Connor Bieluch died Sunday, December 16, 2012 at his home. Born November 12, 1918, in Hartford, he was the son of the late Joseph and Catherine Bieluch. He was a graduate of Hartford Public High School, Class of 1935, and of Brown University, Class of 1939, where he received an A.B. degree, magna cum laude, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. After receiving his J.D. from Yale Law School, he was admitted to the Connecticut Bar on February 19, 1942. From 1942-43, he was associated with the law firm of Covington, Burling, Rublee, Acheson & Shorb, Washington, D.C. During World War II, he served as a LTJG U.S. Coast Guard in the Pacific Theatre, 1943 – 45, participating in the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, and in the original occupation of Aomori, Japan. After discharge from service in November 1945, he engaged in the private practice of law in Hartford until he became a judge of the former Circuit Court of Connecticut on August 8, 1968. At the time of his judicial appointment, he was in partnership with the late Superior Court Judge David M. Barry. Associated with them at the start of his practice of law was now Senior U.S. District Court Judge Alfred V. Covello . Judge Bieluch successively served on the Court of Common Pleas, 1973-76; Superior Court, 1976-85; Appellate Court of Connecticut, 1985-88, when he retired and became a Judge Trial Referee, in which capacity he served until March, 2010. A member of the Connecticut Bar Association, he was one of the founders in 1947 and chairman of its Junior Bar Section, 1948 – 49. He was also a member of the Hartford County Bar Association, the Catholic Lawyers Guild, and a founding member of the Polish University Club of Connecticut in 1939. In 1973, he was decorated by Pope Paul VI as a Knight of St. Gregory. Previously he had been awarded the Archdiocesan Medal of Appreciation in 1970 by the late Archbishop John F. Whealon. He served as a trustee of SS. Cyril & Methodius Church of Hartford from 1962 to 1990, and as a vice-president and director of the former St. Francis Hospital Association upon its organization in 1956, chairman of the Catholic School Board of Hartford, 1968 – 69, and chairman and member of the Archdiocesan School Board, 1969 – 75. In 1995, he received the Distinguished Graduate Award from the National Catholic Education Association. He was a former corporator of St. Francis Hospital & Medical Center and a member of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus since 1952. Upon his return from war service to civilian life, he was on the former Hartford Veterans Service Commission, 1946 – 47, and was also a member of Local Draft Board No. 3, 1953 – 68. He was State Commander of the Polish Legion of American Veterans, 1947 – 48, and received its Merit Award in 1952. He was a life member of its Hartford Post, No. 51, as well as of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post No. 254, and the Iwo Jima Survivors Association. In 1968, he received the United Polish Societies Man of the Year Award. In addition to his wife, Judge Bieluch is survived by his daughter, Dr. Virginia M. Bieluch, of West Hartford, two sons, Attorney William C. Bieluch, of Darien, and Philip J. Bieluch, F.S.A. and his wife Gayle of Avon; one granddaughter, Emi; five grandsons Bill and his wife Julie, Scott, Brian, Chris and Thomas as well as three great-granddaughters. He was predeceased by his first wife, Nellie Sidor Bieluch; three sisters Alice Morran, Bernice Gryk and Catherine Bieluch, and two brothers, Joseph Bieluch and Rev. Chester Bieluch. Judge Bieluch's family will receive friends Wednesday, December 19th, 8:30 - 9:45 a.m. at The Church of St. Timothy, 1116 North Main Street, West Hartford. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:00 a.m. Burial with military honors will be in Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield. Memorial donations may be made to the Felician Sisters, 1315 Enfield Street, Enfield, CT 06082, in fitting tribute to the late Sister Rose Julie, his teacher from 1929 – 31, who encouraged and promoted his college preparation and education during the depression years, or to the Iwo Jima Memorial Historical Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 310516, Newington, CT 06131. The family thanks the dedicated healthcare professionals of VNA Healthcare for providing compassionate care for Judge Bieluch. The Carmon Windsor Funeral Home is caring for the arrangements. For condolences please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com
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