Leo Dombrowski once witnessed the most destructive man-made force at work.

A Coast Guard Academy graduate, he witnessed atomic testing in the 1950s. Now, he spends his time celebrating life and the creatures around us.

The 80-year-old retired plant engineer from La Grange serves one day a week as a docent at Brookfield Zoo, where he was honored for 20 years of service in April. His volunteer work fits in well with his life-long interest in animals.

“My enjoyment is telling children about animals, no monkey business or tall tales or anything like that,” he said. “I’ve been interested in animals since I was a child. What bothered me so much as a kid was the bad information I got.”

If Dombrowski does not have the answer to a question, he carries postcards that he asks the person to write the question down as well as their address. He then finds the answer and mails the response to the patron.

“Sometimes people have questions that are not in the book,” he said.

Notable
A Coast Guard Academy graduate, he witnessed the atomic testing on Eniwetok, an atoll of the Marshall Islands chain in 1954.

& quotable
“The animals have a right to exist on their own. The don’t have to be clever or dress up or do tricks. Just appreciate them for what they are. They’re God’s gift to us, really,” Dombrowski said.


Philosophy 
“You have to respect life in all its forms.”
 

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INTERESTS Serves on the Troop Committee, Boy Scout Troop 21. Brookfield, his  son, Leo, is Scoutmaster

TEAMS Chicago White Sox and Bears