Wense Grabarek

{{Short description|American politician (1919–2019)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2019}}

{{Infobox officeholder

|name=Wense Grabarek

|image=

|alt=

|caption=

|office=Mayor of Durham, North Carolina

|term_start= 1963

|term_end= 1971

|predecessor=

|successor=

|office2 = Member of the Durham City Council

|term_start2 = 1957

|term_end2 = 1961

|predecessor2 =

|successor2 =

|birth_date= May 21, 1919

|birth_place= Luzerne, Pennsylvania, U.S.

|death_date= {{death date and age|2019|12|15|1919|5|21}}

|death_place=

|resting_place=

|residence=

|party=Democratic Party

|alma_mater= Benjamin Franklin University

|spouse= Marion Pritchard Norris

|children= 4 (including Lisa Grabarek)

|parents=

|relatives=

|occupation= politician, accountant

}}

Robert Wensell "Wense" Grabarek (May 21, 1919 – December 15, 2019){{cite web|url=https://www.wral.com/former-durham-mayor-celebrates-100th-birthday/18403759/|website=WRAL.com|title=Former Durham mayor celebrates 100th birthday|date=2019-05-22|accessdate=2019-05-30}}{{cite web|url=https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/durham-county/article238422043.html|title=Wense Grabarek, Durham mayor during integration, dies at 100|website=The News & Observer|date=December 16, 2019}} was an American politician who served as mayor of Durham, North Carolina from 1963 to 1971. Greeted upon entering office with mass civil rights demonstrations, Grabarek was credited with striking a tone of moderation. He established the "Durham Interim Committee," composed of two black and nine white members, with a mandate to "resolve and reconcile" racial differences. Over the next few months, segregation ended at most of Durham's restaurants, hotels and movie theaters, swimming pools, libraries, the chamber of commerce, and the Jaycees. Grabarek also served on the Durham City Council from 1957 to 1961.{{cite web|url=http://andjusticeforall.dconc.gov/gallery_images/r-wensell-wense-grabarek-city-councilman-and-mayor-of-durham/|title=And Justice for All {{pipe}} » R. Wensell "Wense" Grabarek, City Councilman and Mayor of Durham|website=andjusticeforall.dconc.gov|publisher=Durham County Courthouse|accessdate=2019-05-30}}

Grabarek was born in Luzerne, Pennsylvania. He served in the United States Army during World War II. He graduated from Benjamin Franklin University and worked as an accountant. He was married to Marion Pritchard Norris and had four children, including Lisa Grabarek. Grabarek, his wife, and family moved to Durham, North Carolina in the 1950s.{{cite web|url=https://library.duke.edu/rubenstein/findingaids/grabarekwensell/#historicalnote|title=Guide to the R. Wensell Grabarek Papers, 1963-2013 {{pipe}} Collection Guides {{pipe}} Rubenstein Library|website=library.duke.edu|publisher=Duke University Libraries|accessdate=2019-05-30}}[https://hallwynne.com/r-wensell-grabarek/ R. Wense Grabarek-obituary] he died in 2019.