If you haven’t met Roman Rogalski, one of the most active and generous members of our community, stop by the Polish Home on Friday to say hello—he’ll be there.
You’ve probably noticed the run-down house next to the Polish Home.
Here’s the story of Roman and the Chata.
Roman
Roman Rogalski entered the world in Warsaw, Poland, just three years before the storm of German and Russian invasions swept across his homeland. From a young age, adversity shaped his journey. After World War II, Roman found himself in a Displaced Person camp in Germany, where he discovered camaraderie and hope as a member of the Polish Scouts (Zuchy). His quest for belonging and purpose led him across continents—to Venezuela, where he joined the Rovers Scouts and became a vibrant part of the Polish Home in Caracas. Leaving behind war-torn Europe, Roman set out to build a new life, carrying with him the resilience of a survivor.
On a parallel path, Dr. Diana Tattoni-Rogalski was forging her own story of courage. Fleeing Italy for Venezuela, she and her family were granted refugee status, escaping the shadows of conflict. Diana’s brilliance and compassion flourished—she became a distinguished professor of pediatric endocrinology at the University of Washington and a beloved pediatrician, touching countless lives over four decades.
Fate intertwined their journeys. Roman and Diana first met as teenagers in Venezuela, their lives briefly crossing before diverging. Twenty years later, destiny reunited them in Seattle, where they married and began a new chapter together.
The Rogalski are more than survivors—they are beacons of hope and generosity. Arriving in the United States with little more than determination and dreams, they poured their hearts into their adopted country. Through professional excellence and tireless community service, Roman and Diana transformed adversity into opportunity, inspiring all who know their story. Their legacy is a testament to the power of resilience, love, and the enduring spirit of those who choose to give back.
PHA
If you spend any time around the Polish Home Association, sooner or later someone will tell you a story about Roman Rogalski. Some remember him from committee meetings in the 1990s, others from fundraisers, board elections, or the quiet way he seems to appear wherever help is needed. But everyone agrees on one thing: Roman has always been there.
Roman’s connection to the PHA reaches back to 1965, long before he officially joined. As a young man newly settling into Seattle after his U.S. Army service, he watched his mother pour her energy into the Ladies Auxiliary—then known as Koło Pań. Through her, he absorbed the rhythm of community gatherings, the pride of cultural preservation, and the simple ethic that if something needs doing, you roll up your sleeves and do it.
In 1988, he made it official and became a member of the Association. Just two years later, PHA President Mateusz Karczewski—a perceptive judge of people—approached Roman with a proposition. The organization needed a Treasurer. Roman had the steadiness, the integrity, the resolve. Would he take it on?
He said yes, and Karczewski’s instinct proved entirely correct. Roman went on to serve as Treasurer for an astonishing fourteen years, guiding the Association’s finances with his characteristic discipline and calm. When his term ended in 2004, the community was not ready to let him step back. They elected him Trustee, a role he fulfilled for the next decade.
But Roman is not one to coast or retire quietly. In 2015, he ran for—and won—the position of Vice President of Administration. And the very next year, when the newly elected PHA President Paweł Krupa asked if he would consider returning as Treasurer, Roman agreed once again to serve. He has held the position ever since.
Today, at 88 years old, Roman remains one of the most active volunteers at the Polish Home Association. A Seattle resident since 1964, a U.S. Army veteran, and a retired Safeco employee, he brings to the PHA a lifetime of discipline, reliability, and heartfelt loyalty. His service is not a hobby; it is a legacy—one woven into the fabric of the community itself.
If the PHA had a heartbeat, many would say it beats a little stronger because of Roman.
Chata Romana
During the quiet, uncertain days of the Covid shutdown, Roman Rogalski noticed something troubling: the house next to the Polish Hall was about to be auctioned off by the county for unpaid taxes. The man living there was in poor health, bedridden for a long time, and didn’t even know his home was at risk. Most people might have walked by, but Roman Rogalski saw a neighbor in need.
On the morning of the auction, Roman Rogalski and other members of the Polish Home Association sprang into action. With only minutes to spare, they managed to stop the sale, saving the house from being lost to developers. But for Roman Rogalski, helping didn’t end there.
He approached the gentleman with kindness and understanding, offering to buy the house himself. Not only that—he invited the man to stay, rent-free, with his beloved cat Vito and terrier Vince, for two years. After that, the neighbor could choose to stay as a tenant or move on. Overwhelmed with gratitude, the gentleman said it was “the best offer for the property” he’d ever received.
Determined to do even more, Roman Rogalski set about restoring the old house. For nearly four years, he worked to bring it back to its original beauty, updating everything from the wiring to the insulation and plumbing. It was a labor of love and a significant personal investment.
When the work was done, Roman Rogalski made a remarkable decision: he donated the house to the Polish Community. It was the largest gift the community had received in its 107-year history—a gesture that turned one act of kindness into a legacy for generations to come.
