Rochester Man Honored Grandmother Through New Biography
A local 91-year-old author published a book to preserve the life story of his late grandmother.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Alzheimer’s
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Donald Zrebiec has released his first book, She Was Here, which chronicles the life of his grandmother, Catherine Smoral. The biography aims to ensure her legacy is remembered after her decades-long confinement at Willard Asylum.
Why it matters
The book serves to humanize the life of an immigrant mother of nine whose identity was largely defined by long-term institutionalization. This effort highlights the importance of historical preservation for families seeking to reconnect with ancestors lost to closed facilities.
The biography draws on extensive records concerning the 600-acre Willard Asylum, which housed 58,000 patients throughout its history. While Smoral was one of many institutionalized during this era, her grandson's research documents her life until her death in 1957.
The players
Donald Zrebiec
A 91-year-old Rochester resident and author who researched his family history to write a biography about his grandmother.
Catherine Smoral
A Polish immigrant and mother of nine who was institutionalized at Willard Asylum for nearly four decades.
East House
A community organization that plans to honor Smoral by naming a reading area after her.
Willard Asylum
A former 600-acre state institution in Ovid, N.Y., that housed 58,000 patients before closing in 1995.
The details
Donald Zrebiec reconstructed his grandmother’s life through extensive correspondence, including phone calls and emails to government officials to retrieve records. Catherine Smoral, a Polish immigrant formerly of Syracuse, lived at the facility from 1920 until her death. East House plans to honor her memory by naming a reading area after her, acknowledging the significance of her personal history beyond the asylum walls.
Timeline
1922: Catherine Smoral was committed to Willard Asylum.
1940: Donald Zrebiec visited his grandmother at the facility.
1957: Catherine Smoral died at Willard Asylum.
1995: Willard Asylum closed its doors.
2026: Donald Zrebiec published his first book.
Health Landscape
This account contributes to the historical record of the Willard Asylum by contextualizing personal family tragedy within the broader history of New York's institutional systems. It reflects a growing effort to reclaim the stories of thousands of patients who lived in state facilities.
Exploring ancestral health history can provide families with insights into long-term medical narratives that are often obscured by time. If you are researching family health records, it is worth discussing these findings with your doctor to understand any relevant patterns in your own history.
The takeaway
Zrebiec’s book highlights how diligent research can restore the dignity of relatives affected by historical institutionalization. Families are encouraged to consult official state record repositories if they wish to piece together the life stories of loved ones who were long-term patients.
Further reading
For context on the history and impact of memory loss care, visit our Alzheimer’s section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Syracuse.
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