Former Dearborn Heights Councilman Joseph Kosinski is honored for his long-term service to Dearborn Heights during the 2016 Senior Recognition Luncheon.
By ZEINAB NAJM
Times-Herald Newspapers
HEIGHTS — Army veteran, devoted Catholic and public servant are just some of the titles that describe former Dearborn Heights Councilman Joseph Kosinski who died on Sept. 3 following a short illness.
Kosinski’s public service career began in 1973 on the Dearborn Heights Zoning Board of Appeals, but didn’t end there. He was a member of the Dearborn Heights General Government Pension Board since 1984 and chairman of the General Government Pension Committee from 2000 to 2018 when he retired.
During his time as chairman he managed the administrative responsibilities of the Dearborn Heights Employees’ Pension Trust Fund, according to his obituary page.
Kosinski continued his public work in 1978 when he was elected to the City Council in 1978 where he served until 1999.
In 2012 he returned to the city council for five more years before retiring in 2017.
“Joseph was a concerned and active resident of the city of Dearborn Heights since 1960 – fulfilling what he believed to be his call to serve the residents of the city honestly and with integrity,” Kosinski’s obituary page read.
Mayor Daniel Paletko said Kosinski was a good friend and that he will miss him enormously.
“Joseph gave great service to the city and was a real gentleman who was committed to the community, church and greater Dearborn Heights area,” Paletko said.
Councilwoman Lisa Hicks-Clayton said she will remember Kosinski’s calmness and how he thought things through to make logical decisions.
“Along with his logic, Joseph’s years of service, experience and commitment to the city helped him make those decisions while on the council,” she said. “Joseph gave a lot of time and dedication to serve the city, his church and pension board which was very honorable.”
Hicks-Clayton added her sympathy for Kosinski’s family, saying he will be remembered and that his memory should be honored.
Along with public office, Kosinski was a Korean War veteran with the U.S. Army, member of the Polish Legion of American Veterans and worked as a professional sales and marketing representative for 38 years of before retiring from Knoll Pharmaceutical Co. (formerly Boots-Flint Inc. and Baxter International).
He graduated with an bachelor of science degree in marketing from the University of Detroit in 1958. Kosinski attended Assumption B.V.M. Grade School and St. Casimir High School, according to his obituary page.
He is a native Detroiter born on June 18, 1929, to his parents, Stanley and Cecilia Kosinski. The obituary page describes him as a devoted Catholic having been a member of St. Linus Parish since 1960.
“Joseph was devoted to his Catholic faith and his role as husband and father, and public servant,” the obituary read. “His greatest pride was his family and was most happy when surrounded by family, with active banter, time for reminiscence and most importantly, laughter.”
Kosinski leaves his wife of 62 years, Regina; four children, Sharon, Robert, David and Joseph; four grandchildren, Brian, Kenneth, Karsten, Jenna; and many extended family members and lifelong friends. He is predeceased by his parents and siblings Stanley, Helen and Raymond.
“We grieve this loss of our husband, father, teacher, and friend,” the obituary said. “He is an irreplaceable force in our family and we will miss him dearly.”
Funeral visitation and prayer service for Kosinski were held at the Stanley Turowski Funeral Home 25509 W. Warren on Sept. 6. His lying-in-state and mass took place on Sept. 7 at St. Linus Church, 6466 Evangeline.
(Zeinab Najm can be reached at [email protected].)