Advertisement

Ben S. Stefanski

Advertisement

Ben S. Stefanski

Birth
Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA
Death
8 Oct 1991 (aged 89)
Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA
Burial
Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA Add to Map
Plot
Section No. 8 Lot No. 95 Grave No. 4
Memorial ID
View Source
The founder and long time leader of Third Federal Saving and Loan of Cleveland, one of Cleveland's most successful savings institutions. Born in the Broadway neighborhood of Cleveland to William and Anna (Czamiak) Stefanski. His early life was rooted in the Polish American traditions which characterized the are. He attended Fullerton School and South and East Technical High School. Later he attended Cleveland Business College and took additional coursework from the American Savings and Loan Institute.

On August 24, 1937 he married Gerome Rita Rutkowski. The couple honeymoon in Washington, D.C. where they applied for a federal charter for a new savings and loan company. Third Federal Savings and Loan came into existence on May 3, 1938. Stefanski aim for the fledgling organization was straightforward "helping the working man attain a home of his own". Third Federal prospered always adhering to its original purposes. In the 1980's some other Cleveland savings and loan officials remarked that Stefanski approach had became old fashioned. He was not deterred, however, and Third federal emerged from the decade stronger than ever, while his critics institutions foundered. In 1995, Third Federal had 21 offices, and assets topping $4.5 billion. Stefanski served as Third Federal president and then chairman until his retirement in 1987.

Active in the Polish-American community, he was honored by the Polish-American Congress and the Polish Legion. Devoted to The Catholic Church, in 1965 he pledged $1 million to its high school building fund.

Stefanski was father to five children: Ben S. II, Herminie, Abigail, Floyd, and Marc who succeeded his father as the Third Federal chairman.

From the Cleveland Encyclopedia of History.
The founder and long time leader of Third Federal Saving and Loan of Cleveland, one of Cleveland's most successful savings institutions. Born in the Broadway neighborhood of Cleveland to William and Anna (Czamiak) Stefanski. His early life was rooted in the Polish American traditions which characterized the are. He attended Fullerton School and South and East Technical High School. Later he attended Cleveland Business College and took additional coursework from the American Savings and Loan Institute.

On August 24, 1937 he married Gerome Rita Rutkowski. The couple honeymoon in Washington, D.C. where they applied for a federal charter for a new savings and loan company. Third Federal Savings and Loan came into existence on May 3, 1938. Stefanski aim for the fledgling organization was straightforward "helping the working man attain a home of his own". Third Federal prospered always adhering to its original purposes. In the 1980's some other Cleveland savings and loan officials remarked that Stefanski approach had became old fashioned. He was not deterred, however, and Third federal emerged from the decade stronger than ever, while his critics institutions foundered. In 1995, Third Federal had 21 offices, and assets topping $4.5 billion. Stefanski served as Third Federal president and then chairman until his retirement in 1987.

Active in the Polish-American community, he was honored by the Polish-American Congress and the Polish Legion. Devoted to The Catholic Church, in 1965 he pledged $1 million to its high school building fund.

Stefanski was father to five children: Ben S. II, Herminie, Abigail, Floyd, and Marc who succeeded his father as the Third Federal chairman.

From the Cleveland Encyclopedia of History.


Sponsored by Ancestry

Advertisement