Boleslaw Leonard Dombrowski – Lieutenant, United States Navy

EX-NAVY OFFICER SUICIDE IN HOTEL
B. L. Dombrowski Ends Life By Shot Here – Despondent Since Death Of Wife
Graduate of Annapolis
Previously Had Tried To Kill Himself By Gas, Police Learn – Suffered Financial Reverses
October 26, 1937

With a bullet from the service pistol issued to him when he entered the United States Naval Academy in 1911, Boleslaw Leonard Dombrowski, formerly of Milbrook, Stamford, Connecticut, killed himself yesterday in his room in the George Washington Hotel, Lexington Avenue and Twenty-third Street.

The police said he had been despondent since the death a year ago of his wife, the former Louise White, and that soon after her death he had attempted to kill himself by inhaling carbon monoxide gas.  They also learned that he had suffered financial reverses in recent years.  Until a few months ago he had been employed as a salesman for an advertising concern.

Mr. Dombrowski’s body was discoveredby a maid at 10:10 A.M. yesterday.  The former Naval Officer was seated in a chair facing a mirror.  His automatic pistol had fallen at this feet.  He had shot himself through the head.  In the closet of his room the police found the sword given to him when he was graduating from Annapolis in 1914.  Hanging next to it was a uniform with the insignia of a Lieutenant Commander in the Naval Reserves.

A week agao he had expressed the desire to be buried in the national cemetery at Arlingtin “should anything happen to me.”

During the World War, Mr. Dombrowski was in the Navy as an Ensign.  He resigned in 1920 with the rank of Lieutenant and joined the New York State Naval Reserve. At one time he wasa member of the staff of the State Naval Militia and had served as commander of the Thirty-second Fleet Division at Ossining, New York.

After the death of his wife, Mr. Dombrowski rented his home and came to New York. He is survived by two children, Robert, 14 years old, and Richard, 12, who live in Greenwich with relatives. He was 45 years old.

DOMBROWSKI, BOLESLAW LEONARD
LIEUT US NAVY RES USN
DATE OF DEATH: 10/25/1937
BURIED AT: SECTION 6  SITE 9432
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard