Page 8 - RR-12-4-25

8 • RIVERROCK T • Thursday, December 4, 2025
Black Rock native’s name is on over 100 patents

Dr. Chester (Szczypkowski) Sheppard

By Ron Szczypkowski Just a year after graduating from " I am more proud of the 45
irst generation children en- high school, Chet was smart enough patents the people I supervised
counter many obstacles in to enroll in the Army after WW II have earned in the past 10 years
Flife, but a few overcome ended – just in time to qualify for than I am of the 64 patents I've
them and become highly successful the GI bill that was going to pay for earned personally.”
in their new country. A clear exam- his college education. His four years
ple of this is Chester Sheppard. The at Canisius College were fully paid continued his work as a chemist for
second oldest in our seven-child which led to a career in chemistry. Lucidol. He became the research
family, Chet showed early promise Eventually, this proficient learner manager at the company's laborato-
of being exceptional. obtained a Ph.D in this subject and ry in Tonawanda, NY and subse-
Both our parents were born in had a very successful career as a quently gained the reputation as an
Poland and spoke mainly Polish to researcher with multiple patents to internationally recognized authority
each other. He attended a public his credit. in his field. When companies such
grammar school for two years be- Chester had two major employ- as Dow, Dupont, 3M and Union Dr. Chester (Szczypkowski) Sheppard at the Mellon Institute in Pitts-
fore he enrolled in the Assumption ers: United States Steel and Lucidol. Carbide or institutions of higher burgh in 1955.
parochial school in Buffalo’s Black Working for U.S. Steel required learning such as Columbia Univer- this high honor – what an accom- learning how to play a great game of
Rock neighborhood where he had to him to move to Pittsburgh where he sity, McMaster University and To- plishment for a first generation fam- chess, especially during lunch
repeat a grade because he was so far resided for 10 years. This position ronto University coordinated a ily of Polish descent and it all breaks at work. He attempts and
behind his classmates. But did that also enabled Chet to complete his seminar about organic peroxides, started with Chet. most often succeeds in doing several
stop Chet from graduating 2nd in doctorate – another example how he they called Dr. Chester Sheppard. Chester continued his involve- cross word puzzles every day. His
his class – absolutely not. And what was able to find someone else pay Organic peroxides are essential ment with boy scouts after he re- favorite card game is pinochle and
high school did he attend? It was for his extensive education. ingredients in the manufacturing of turned home from the Army as an continues to win most games at our
one with the most difficult pro- 109 patents PVC, vinyl, and polystyrene and are assistant scoutmaster. He became an annual family picnic.
grams in the city – Buffalo Techni- used in fiberglass boats, carpet fi- important mentor to many young He keeps in shape by going
The pull to return to his roots
cal School and he majored in was very strong and Chet decided to bers and other products that use scouts, including his younger broth- swimming six days a week, eating
chemistry! plastics. ers. Chester also spent a summer at proper foods (especially wild game
come home to Buffalo where he
Below are Chet's own words that the Crystal Lake Boy Scout camp in and fish that he caught) and volun-
sum up his career in research: charge of campers from another boy teering including serving as an usher
“My career in research and de- scout troop from the Buffalo area. in his local Catholic church.
TINY’S SHOP velopment has been exciting and Chester had other talents as Chester remains close to his two
68 Churchill St., Buffalo -14207 rewarding and the highlight, without well. He played amateur basketball daughters, son-in-law and their chil-
In Business 9 Years! question, has been my work on pat- for many years and was a proficient dren and grand children. His home is
716-931-5873 ents. In fact, I am more proud of the scorer and rebounder. Chet was the always packed with family on many
45 patents the people I supervised highest scorer in the league. He was holidays. Chet has been involved
Auto Repair Mufflers have earned in the past 10 years than also a very promising baseball with his brothers owning land and a
Car Maintenance I am of the 64 patents I've earned pitcher for Pierce Arrow Bar & Grill vacation cabin jointly for many de-
OIL CHANGE - bring your own oil & personally.” until he injured his throwing arm, cades. He was always a great "big
filter - $20 Dr. Sheppard's supervisor at Lu- but continued to play other posi- brother" to his younger siblings. I
OIL CHANGE -we supply oil & filter cidol provided this insight into tions for many years. I, his younger remember when Chet took me at age
- $50 & up Chet's success as a research manag- brother, was the bat boy for this 15 to get my first hunting license
er: "Chet gives everyone the credit team and saw first hand what a great (which I still have) with Chester
they deserve, both on the job and in athlete my older brother was. Szczypkowski's signature as the
the patent applications, and that en- Chet did not participate in any consenting adult.
courages all of us to perform to the high school sports because he was Another surprising talent Chet
best of our abilities." so small – he was only 5 feet 5 acquired was being able to read and
Another key to Chet's success is inches tall and weighed less than 90 write in Polish that he learned at the
his vision for guiding future re- lbs. when he entered his first year of Assumption School taught by Polish
search: The key to our future is to high school. His health was also Felician nuns. His father had rela-
identify the needs of tomorrow and impaired due to chronic asthma dur- tives still living in Poland after
begin researching them today. ing his adolescence. Who would World War II. Both Chet's mother
Chet grew up in Black Rock have imagined that he would grow and father visited Poland in 1960
which was fortunate to have a boy to be 6 feet 2 inches and weigh a and one result was a mail communi-
scout troop he could join sponsored healthy 180 lbs. before he reached cation with some of their Polish rel-
by the Assumption Church. He be- his 21st birthday. atives who were conversant only in
came an avid scout and obtained the Living in Western New York Polish. Chet helped prepare the re-
rank of eagle – the first in our family has many advantages, especially for sponses his parents wished to con-
to do so. This accomplishment set a a sportsman like Chet. He became vey and often sent food parcels to
standard for his younger brothers, an expert black bass fisherman on the relatives living in Poland.
Len and John, who also became Lake Erie, a highly accomplished
eagle scouts. Unfortunately, another ice fisherman, and a proficient tur-
brother, me, apparently met the 21 key and deer hunter bagging his
merit badge requirement, but sever- latest deer at age 97! His hunting
al of my records were lost and this skills were honed in by practicing
discouraged me from pursuing the skeet shooting at the Grand Island
eagle award. Had I become an eagle Rod and Gun Club where Chet
Coupon Expires 12/31/25 scout, Chet, Len, John and Ron earned many trophies as an expert
would have been the first four broth- shooter.
ers in the United States to achieve Chet had other talents including Chet, the master fisherman, with
a 25 lb. + striped bass.