Emil Peter Wroblicky of Pacific Palisades passed away March 22. Emil was born in Harvey, Ill., on Aug. 12, 1924. He graduated from Thornton Township High School in 1942.
He served in the 4th Marine Division in the Pacific during WWII at Roi Namur and Kwajelein Atoll in the Marshall Islands.
Photos by: Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer
Later he was transferred to the 6th Marine Division at Guadalcanal, which went on to the Caroline Islands and then landing on Okinawa, Easter Sunday April 1, 1945.
He went home and used the G.I. Bill to attend Drake University where he played football.
He married Alice Zachacz, his wife of 64 years on Jan. 28, 1950, before moving to South Bend to earn his Master’s degree from the University of Notre Dame, where he was an assistant coach for the freshman football team under Frank Leahy.
In the fall of 1951 he moved to California to teach and coach at St. Monica High School before becoming a professor and football coach at California State University, Los Angeles. During this time his sons Dan, Phil and Steve were born, hence beginning his years of coaching Pacific Palisades little league, youth basketball and his involvement in Boy Scout Troop 486.
As his sons moved on to college he began his involvement with American Legion Post 283. He was the Post Commander in 1996 and was Legionnaire of the Year for the State of California in 2000.
He was also chairman of the Citizens Flag Alliance for the Department of California. He continued to serve the Post and the community of Pacific Palisades until his death, his special projects being the Palisades Fourth of July Parade, visiting the local elementary schools on Veteran’s Day and Legion dances.
In 1999 he was inducted into the Drake University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2002 he received the Special Achievement Award for Dedicated Service to Pacific Palisades. Emil also served from 2003 to 2006 as a committee member to the “National Salute to Bob Hope and Military.” He was awarded “Citizen of the Year” of Pacific Palisades in 2006.
Emil is survived by his beloved and devoted wife Alice; sons Daniel (Janet), Philip (Jan), and Steven (Ruta); nine grandchildren; and four great grandchildren.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, March 29, at Corpus Christi Church in Pacific Palisades. In lieu of flowers please honor Emil with donations to the American Legion Dept. of California, Rehabilitation, 205 13th St, Rm. 3300, San Francisco, CA 94103-2461.
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.
