William J. " Big Bill" Hosinski & Son  

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1. News Times Article - September 04, 1921

2. Tribune Article - August 14, 1928

3. Sherrif Campaign Poster

LADISLAUS “BIG BILL” HOSINSKI  1888-1963

Ladislaus “Big Bill” Hosinski was a picture of his father Anton an early pioneer of the community.

HE REFLECTS THE TALE AND STRUGGLE OF COUNTLESS IMMIGRANT FAMILIES

Anton’s 1928 obituary describes his struggle and the success of his 12 children and many grandchildren.

“Mr. Hosinski is pointed out by those that knew him as an example to the young man who desires to get along in the world. After living in America in his boyhood and endowed with a spirit of  courage and self denial he realized that hard work was necessary, and through courage, self denial and vigorous labor made a success of his life. He took interest in religion, becoming one of the organizers of St. Hedwig and St Stanislaus Parish. Of this city.”

Big Bill would follow his fathers creed of “Hard Work” and Self Denial” rising to the height of the social ladder available to early immigrant families. 

His son William Jr. (1919 - 2002) will become a highly respected Superior Court Judge in South Bend and one of  the most decent men I have had the honor to know.

His brothers and sisters will become respected Priest’s / Pastor’s , Nuns, Educators and contributors to the fabric of our community.

Rest in Peace and Honor.

Added 10/01/2005

Judge William A. Hosinski  

William A. Hosinski was born Nov. 28, 1919, in South Bend, Ind., the son of William J. "Big Bill" and Hattie H.(Pilarski)  Hosinski. To this union also came a sister Marjorie Hosinski Hamel of Chicago, Ill.   On April 11, 1944, in Winthrop, Mass., he will marry Martha Louise Mitten.The union will bear five children who survive to adulthood,  Anne Marie Madden of Portland, Ore., Claire Louise Sanford of Camden, Maine, Paul Scott Hosinski of South Bend, Peter Mitten Hosinski of Stamford, Conn., and John Stephen Hosinski of South Bend.  and his sister, Marjorie Hosinski Hamel of Chicago, Ill.   Judge Hosinski, graduated from St. Hedwig High School in South Bend in 1936. He then attended the University of Notre Dame, receiving his bachelor of science in accounting in 1940 and his law degree in 1942. Upon graduation from the law school he immediately entered into active duty in the United State Army Air Corps. On April 11, 1944, in Winthrop, Mass., he married United States Naval Ensign Martha L. Mitten. Following the war they returned to South Bend, and on Jan. 1, 1946, he entered upon the practice of law, which practice he continued until his election as judge of the superior court in 1972. His retirement from the court was effective Jan. 1, 1987.   While in practice, Judge Hosinski served in the office of the city attorney in South Bend in two administrations. He served as president of the St. Joseph County Bar Association in 1964 and 1965. He also served as a member of the House of Delegates of the Indiana State Bar Association, was a charter member of the Indiana Lawyers' Commission, and served as chairman of the St. Joseph County Bar Association Committee on Re-Organization of the Courts in 1970-1971.   Judge Hosinski will pass December 22, 2002, while visiting his children in Sharon, CT. Martha is living in retirement in South Bend.    

A Remembrance of Judge Hosinski South Bend Tribune (12-28-2002)  

Retired St. Joseph Superior Court Judge William A. Hosinski will be remembered as an honest and ethical jurist who was considered "firm but fair" by those who appeared before him.   After 27 years of practicing law, he was elected a Superior Court judge in 1972 and served 14 years until retiring.   "He was organized and orderly and efficient as a judge," said South Bend attorney George Herendeen, a longtime friend and colleague. "He had particularly good common sense and was respected. He did a good job in his tenure."   Herendeen, a former South Bend City Court judge, said Hosinski would sit pro tem for him during his term from 1968-1972, before Hosinski was elected to the bench.   "He was one of the guys who put a robe on and did not change. He respected his position and did not let it go to his head," added Herendeen.   As a member of the transition committee for Prosecutor-elect Michael Dvorak, Herendeen, the committee's chairman, said Hosinski was at Herendeen's office several times in recent weeks.   Hosinski joked about being the oldest one there, Herendeen said, "He was proud of the fact he was an octogenarian and still healthy and active."   Prosecutor-elect Michael Dvorak recalled his last meeting with the judge and others on his transition committee to discuss personnel recommendations they made for his new staff.   "I considered him a father figure in practicing law," Dvorak said.   As the meeting broke up, "he came up, tall and imposing, shook my hand and said to me, 'Be yourself,' " said Dvorak. "He was great. I take (his death) hard. It's a personal loss. He was a good friend, and on the bench, very well-respected."   St. Joseph Superior Court Judge Michael Scopelitis said Hosinski was the same on and off the bench. "He was as well-disciplined, honest, noble and caring in his public life as in his private life."   Hosinski, who administered the oath of office to Scopelitis when he became judge in 2000, was a strong influence on him and other lawyers who began practicing in the early 1970s.   "He possessed qualities that I admire in a judge and that I want to emulate, such as honesty, integrity and complete objectivity," Scopelitis said. "He did not let his personal feelings interfere with his rulings and ruled how he believed the law required based on the facts of the case."   Indiana Court of Appeals Judge Michael P. Barnes said, "He was a great guy and even greater jurist. When I was a young lawyer, he was instrumental in showing me how things should be done correctly."   Barnes, who served 20 years as St. Joseph County prosecutor, said a lot of people considered Hosinski a mentor.   At a 1987 dinner in Hosinski's honor when he retired, longtime friend and former Circuit Court Judge John Montgomery said, "I know him as honest and honorable, dedicated to the law and people striving to maintain traditions with future generations of lawyers. ... We're not apt to see the likes of him again."   By the time Judge Hosinski retired Jan. 1, 1987, he had been hanging around the St. Joseph County Courthouse some 50 years.   He left the bench 50 years to the day that his father, William J. "Big Bill" Hosinski, took office as St. Joseph County sheriff in 1937. But the legacy of public service continued as one of the judge's sons, John, served a term as a South Bend city councilman in the 1990s.

Note: See Hosinski Family in America in the family pages

Information Submitted by: Jim Piechorowski

Project Started: September 05, 2005 - 09:22:21 AM

Updated: Saturday, October 01, 2005 05:52:46 PM

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