Fr. Leonard F. Chrobot, former academic dean and college president of St. Mary’s College in Orchard Lake, died Sept. 9 in South Bend, Ind., after injuries suffered in a car accident, according to the South Bend Tribune newspaper. He was 76.

Born in South Bend on April 16, 1938, to Henry Chrobot and Marie Wroblewski, Fr. Chrobot attended St. Adalbert Elementary School in South Bend; St. Mary’s Preparatory, St. Mary’s College, SS. Cyril and Methodious Seminary in Orchard Lake; and was ordained to the priesthood in May 1964.

After teaching in schools in Indiana early in his ministry, including at the University of Notre Dame, Fr. Chrobot completed a master’s degree in American Literature from Purdue University in 1968 and a doctorate in 1975 from Wayne State University. In 1967, Bishop Leo Pursley released Fr. Chrobot to return to Orchard Lake to serve as dean of men and instructor of English for St. Mary’s College and American Literature for the St. Mary’s Prep. He served as academic dean of the college from 1968-76, and as president from 1977-87. In 1989, he returned to the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, serving in many roles as pastor, teacher and chaplain.

Proud of his Polish heritage, Fr. Chrobot was appointed coordinator of the American Polish Research Fellowship Program at Notre Dame. Among his many other accomplishments, he was one of the founders of the National Center for Urban Ethnic Affairs in Washington, D.C.; co-founder of the Polish American-Jewish American Dialog in Detroit, which developed into the National Polish American-Jewish American Council; one of 18 United States delegates to the 50th Anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1944; served as president of the Polish American Historical Association from 1987-1989; and named Outstanding Educator of the United States in 1970.

Fr. Chrobot is survived by his sister, Joan (Charles) Webber; his brother, Hank Chrobot; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, his sister-in-law, Marylou Chrobot, his nephew Eric Webber, and a great-niece. A funeral Mass was Sept. 13 at St. Hedwig Church in South Bend.