Dentist who shared love of scouting with 6 sons

Edward A. Dachowski Sr., 79, of Horsham, a dentist in Willow Grove for more than 40 years and proud father of six Eagle Scouts, died of cancer Tuesday at Temple University Hospital.

Dr. Dachowski spent his early childhood in Throop, a coal-mining town near Scranton. His family later moved to Willow Grove. As a teenager he worked on the flight line, preparing refreshments for pilots at Willow Grove Naval Air Station. His mother worked in the main kitchen, and his father was a carpenter at the station.

After graduating from Hatboro-Horsham High School, Dr. Dachowski earned a bachelor's degree from La Salle College and a dental degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He served in the Navy in Maryland.

In 1957, he married Beatrice McNally, and the next year he opened a dental office in Willow Grove. He had a friendly relationship with his patients, who called him Dr. Ed, his son Michael said. Dr. Dachowski was a member of several professional organizations and volunteered his dental services at St. Mary's Villa for Children in Ambler and St. Francis Home for Boys in Bensalem.

Growing up, Dr. Dachowski achieved the rank of Life Scout, just below Eagle Scout. When his sons were Boy Scouts, he was active with their troop at St David's Church in Willow Grove.

"We could give my wife a break on weekends when we went on camping trips," he told a reporter in 1989 when his youngest son, Stephen, joined his brothers as an Eagle Scout.

At the time, Dr. Dachowski said the achievement "is like an education. It's something nobody can ever take away from you, like a house or a car. It's internationally recognized. If you go to England or Germany, they know what an Eagle Scout is."

To earn the honor, Dr. Dachowski's sons completed community-service projects including clearing a trail in Pennypack Watershed, planting evergreen trees, distributing donated Thanksgiving dinners, and landscaping churches.

As a member of the Catholic Committee on Scouting, Dr. Dachowski helped create the Panis Vitae, a commemorative service award for Boy Scouts from all over the world who attended the Eucharistic Congress in Philadelphia in 1976. He received the St. George Award for his service to Catholic scouting.

When his wife died in 1982, the couple's youngest boy was 10. Dr. Dachowski became an accomplished cook and sat down with his family every night for dinner, Michael said.

He added that his father had never forgot his hardscrabble roots and believed in the work ethic, having his boys scraping paint and pounding nails at the rental properties he rehabbed.

Dr. Dachowski enjoyed carpentry, photography, jewelry- making, and gardening.

In addition to Stephen and Michael, he is survived by sons Edward Jr., Damian, John, and Christopher, and 12 grandchildren.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the Bryers Funeral Home, 406 N. Easton Rd., Willow Grove. A Funeral Mass will be said at 10 a.m. tomorrow at St. David's Church, 316 N. Easton Rd., Willow Grove. Burial will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Cheltenham.

Memorial donations may be made to the Edward and Beatrice Dachowski Memorial Scholarship Fund, La Salle College High School, 8605 Cheltenham Ave., Wyndmoor, Pa. 19038.