Tom and Toni Wilczewski ’74
Honoring a Life of Determination, Laughter and Love
Born and raised in Jersey City, Thomas Wilczewski was stricken with polio at age 4. He was confined to an iron lung for nearly two years and released from the hospital in a wheelchair. He then embarked on a lifelong struggle to regain the stamina and mobility taken by polio.
After graduating from high school Tom was unable to find a job because prospective employers could not see beyond his wheelchair. Tom persevered and founded Wilczewski Engraving with his brother Ed, which they operated successfully for over 35 years. A well-known, self-taught watercolor artist and art teacher, Tom was also an avid traveler, fisherman and reader, who authored two books.
When a local congressman invited Tom to his office to celebrate the creation of a special parking placard for disabled drivers in the early ’80s, Tom met the love of his life Antoinette (“Toni”) Sergio ’74. Toni had contracted polio when she was a two-month-old infant and like Tom, was confined to a wheelchair. Toni overcame her own physical challenges, earned her bachelor’s degree from Saint Peter's University (then College) and had a successful career. When Tom met Toni, “his whole life changed.” In Tom’s words, “through Toni’s zest for life, her laughter and her love,” she taught him how to live an able life. They married in 1991 and enjoyed 25 wonderful years together until she passed after a brief illness.
To memorialize their shared commitment to overcoming adversities faced by people with a disability, Tom left a bequest in his will to Saint Peter's University in Toni’s honor to benefit students who have a permanent disability. Tom’s thoughtful planning is a touching example of how to honor a loved one while making a lasting impact at Saint Peter's University.
Like Tom, you can honor a loved one while supporting the mission of Saint Peter's University with a memorial or tribute gift. Contact Linda S. Moore, J.D. at (201) 761-6128 and lmoore2@saintpeters.edu to learn more about this special gift.