Brilliant psychiatrist and Polish patriot dies

Dr. Henry Wojcicki established two hospital psychiatric departments and was fast friends with Pope John Paul II

Dr. Henry Wojcicki

By RAMON GONZALEZ
WCR Staff Writer
Edmonton

Dr. Henry Wojcicki, a renowned Catholic psychiatrist and member of the Order of Canada, will be remembered as a man who was true to his faith and true to his Polish roots.

"He was a wonderful human being and a wonderful Catholic," said Archbishop emeritus Joseph MacNeil. "He was very much involved in the Church and in the Polish community. He helped to reorganize the St. Luke's (Catholic) Physicians Guild some 25 years ago and was a strong supporter of Catholic Social Services."

John Paul's friend

When Pope John Paul II visited Edmonton in 1984 MacNeil chose Wojcicki and his wife Zosia to bring the gifts at the Papal Mass.

Wojcicki, a friend of John Paul before he became pope, died peacefully at home Dec. 31 surrounded by his family. He was 90.

He is survived by his wife Zosia, a former Polish nurse whom he married in 1945, three children, five grandchildren, two great-granddaughters, and other relatives.

Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, of Polish heritage in 1916, Wojcicki served under Polish, French and British command in the Second World War.

For his services he received the Polonia Restituta Order of Poland, the Cross of Valour, the Cross of Merit and the Silver Badge of Honour of the Polish Combatants Association.

His 50-plus year career in medicine began at the universities of Warsaw and Edinburgh.

His doctoral thesis in war neuroses led to his appointment as head of the neuro-psychiatry ward in the First Polish Military Hospital at Taymouth Castle, Perthshire, Scotland.

In 1947 he was head of the neuro-psychiatric department in a Polish veterans hospital in Penley, Wales.

In 1953 he immigrated to Canada as clinical director of Saskatchewan Hospital in North Battleford, Sask., and was put in charge of the Mental Health Clinic in Kindersley, Sask. He became a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in 1954.

Upon moving to Edmonton in 1960 he set up a private practice that he maintained until 2001.

Wojcicki was responsible for the establishment of the departments of psychiatry at both the Edmonton General and Misericordia hospitals. He lobbied and received approval for these hospitals to provide accredited training for psychiatric residency.

He maintained several senior level appointments at hospitals in Edmonton, including chief of service at the Misericordia, chief of the department of psychiatry at the Edmonton General, coordinator of the psychiatric outpatient program at the Grey Nuns and clinical professor at the Faculty of Medicine's department of psychiatry at the University of Alberta.

Founded AADAC

He played a major role in the creation of the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC). In the later years of his career he used his wealth of experience to serve as a member of the Alberta Board of Review and the Mental Health Review Panel.

"I met him when he was very young and very active, not long after he came," recalled MacNeil.

"He was a very good psychiatrist who introduced (in Canada) some techniques that were common in Europe; he was able to use them and establish them here and it was great for young people who needed to be in psychiatric care.

"He was wonderful and was always very willing to give his services. He was also very concerned about the poor and was a very good supporter of Catholic Social Services."

Order of Sylvester

In 1970, Wojcicki received international recognition for his efforts in humanitarianism and charitable work when he received a papal knighthood as commander of the Order of St. Sylvester. An appointment to the University of Alberta Senate followed in 1983 and he served two consecutive terms.

For his continuous work in multiculturalism and health services in Canada he was awarded the Order of Canada in 1989.

Throughout his life Wojcicki was a prominent member of the Polish community. He served as president of the Canadian-Polish Congress (Alberta Branch) from 1965 to 1967 and 1977 to 1981.

He also served as a member of the Canadian Council of Multiculturalism from 1970 to 1973 and was chairman of the biennial national convention of the Canadian-Polish Congress in 1966, 1982 and 1988.

Driving the cardinal

Wojcicki was selected to be the driver and companion of Cardinal Karol Wojtyla on his visit to Edmonton in 1969. The two formed an instant connection and continued their friendship over the years.

MacNeil knew of their friendship and when the pope came to Edmonton in 1984 he asked Wojcicki and his wife, as previously mentioned, to present the gifts at the papal Mass.

"They were friends so it seemed the sensible thing to do," recalled MacNeil. "He was an extremely good Catholic. He was a wonderful human being, a very gracious and generous man who lived his faith and was true to his faith and true to his Polish origin. And I consider that we were good friends."

Father Jozef Wroblewski officiated at a funeral Mass for Wojcicki Jan. 6 at St. John the Evangelist Church.

Copyright © 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 -- Western Catholic Reporter