Mt. Prospect baker built family business

One of the main ingredients behind the success of Central Continental Bakery in Mount Prospect has passed away.

Ted Czerniak of Des Plaines was a second generation baker who brought the original Polish recipes he learned from his father when he joined his sons, Roger and Robert, in opening Central Continental in 1979.

He died Tuesday at the age of 86.

His son, Robert, continues to run the bakery. And it continues to be a family business, with Robert Czerniak working alongside his own sons, who represent the family’s fourth generation of bakers.

“My dad was the senior baker,” Robert Czerniak said. “Most of the customers didn’t know him. He stayed in the back and often started baking at night.”

If the customers didn’t recognize Mr. Czerniak, they knew his work. Some of the original recipes from his own father’s bakeries, which date back to 1922 on Chicago’s South Side, include Polish rye bread, kolacky cookies, pound cake and paczki jelly rolls.

Today, bakers at Central Continental still work from a book of old recipes originally belonging to Mr. Czerniak’s father.

“It’s barely holding together,” Robert Czerniak said. “We have to look at it quickly, without handling it too much.”

Despite his age, Mr. Czerniak continued to work in the bakery until his legs gave out, his son said. Baking, he added, was his father’s life.

“My dad was a stickler for quality control,” he said. “He made sure the recipes were right and the quality was good.”

Besides his son, Mr. Czerniak is survived by his wife, Dolores, and children Robin of Chicago, and Cynthia and Randall, both of Des Plaines; as well as 11 grandchildren; and four great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son. Roger.

A funeral Mass will take place at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Zachary Church, 567 W. Algonquin Road in Des Plaines.