Dave Wolinski

David Brain Wolinski, 69, of Colorado Springs, CO, passed away in his home on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, from bladder cancer. His wishes were cremation with no public funeral service.  Inurnment was held on Saturday, June 15, 2024, at the Czechoslovakian Cemetery in Farwell, NE.  Val Killinger and Tracey Dietz offered words of comfort.

Dave was born on August 13, 1953, to Don and Marlene (Platek) Wolinski in Philadelphia, PA on a Naval Base due to his father being stationed there in the Army.

Dave grew up in Farwell, Nebraska, delivering papers in the wee hours of the morning, helping his dad on the farm and working at Lukasiewicz Furniture.  A member of the Thespians in high school, everyone who saw him in the play “Harvey” remembers the painting of him as Elwood P. Dowd and his imaginary rabbit, Harvey.  It was painted by 16-year-old Kristine Panowicz in art class. Dave graduated from St. Paul High School, St. Paul, NE in 1971.

Graduating with a B.A., in Art History from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln and studying art in Paris, his love for art and art history were always part of his life. Dave’s artistic vision lead his home décor, antiques and antique quilt collection and in some jobs, as the Display Coordinator at Ethan Allan Galleries in college in Lincoln, NE to leading a team to redecorate the New York Ritz Carlton lobby years later.

Dave’s love for travel was always up front starting in college where he was the Publicity Manager and Travel Counselor at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln Flights and Study Tours International. In his last year of college, he took a job as parking attendant at the Lincoln Hilton Hotel, Lincoln, NE where he was promoted to Night Desk Clerk, to Night Auditor and then to Director of Sales within months. His promotions and opportunities took him to other Director of Sales or Marketing positions in the hotel industry from the Logan Hilton, Boston, MA, to the Harbor Court Hotel, Baltimore, MD and of the Omni International Hotel, Norfolk, VA and Baltimore, MD and General Manager of the Marriott, Baltimore, MD.

His love of the culinary world and cooking led him to be Director of Marketing at Baltimore’s International Culinary Arts Institute, Baltimore, MD and The Park Hotel/European Education Centre, Co. Cavan, Ireland. After returning from Ireland Dave was employed as a copywriter for Catling & Company where he produced beautiful high gloss books and materials for 4 and 5-Star Hotels and for the Historic Hotels of America. His credits also include Thomas Rogers Kimball…A Nebraska Architect, University of Nebraska Press; St. Anthony’s – a Centennial, 1877-1977, The Polish Catholic Church in Pioneer Nebraska; Menus for Special Occasions, The Preservation Press; and annual directories for Historic Hotels of America.

He worked with The Campbell Group PR firm as Production Manager and then in the same position for Mariner Marketing in Columbia, MD for 17 years. The last 9+ years Dave, and his sister, Kim, have owned, managed and resided in the award-winning Old Town Guesthouse, B&B in Old Colorado City, Colorado Springs, hosting over 15,000 guests from around the globe. “Chef Dave” received rave reviews for his delicious and hearty Americana breakfasts influenced by his Midwest upbringing, through his natural joy and talent for cooking, jobs in the culinary industry and unending research on the best recipes.

Dave loved dachshunds and had a few since high school. He tended to own homes with large backyards so that he could have trees and shrubs and prune things all year round. Several of his homes were remodeled down to the studs making the décor his. He enjoyed genealogy and researched both sides of his family tree for years. He collected antique quilts, watches, retro games and more. He loved playing tennis but later in life had chronic back issues that kept him from much mobility. Dave read constantly and could share information in depth to B&B guests, who thoroughly enjoyed listening and learning about the Pikes Peak area and history and other current affairs.

Dave was married to Meg from Harrisburg, PA for 8 years, they remained friends. Dave is survived by his sister, Kim Wolinski, Colorado Springs, CO and brother, Kelly Wolinski, Lincoln, NE, and nephew and niece Colton and Chase Wolinski, both of Omaha, NE. He is preceded in death by his parents, Don and Marlene (Platek) Wolinski, Farwell, NE.

Dave requested any memorials (though not necessary) be given to the Czechoslovakian Cemetery, Farwell, NE (where his parents, Don and Marlene and grandparents, Carrie (Hurt) and Henry Platek are buried), or the St Joseph’s Cemetery, Elba Catholic Church, Elba, NE (where his grandparents Anton and Mary (Gdanitz) Wolinski are buried).

Note regarding Dave’s bladder cancer, he wanted you to know that it was related to his smoking for 35 years.