Dear William (and Daniel, Catherine, Michael & Baby Girl Y) (and your parents), (and any future descendants and their parents),

William, I just had the pleasure of seeing you via Skype — you look GREAT!

Today, let me tell you about my Wójcio Bolek. He was one of my Mom’s brothers. I previously told you how he came to pick us up when I first came to the United States — now, let me tell you a bit more.

First, some background information:

Your Great-Great Grandfather ANTONI DZIKOWSKI was born on 07 Jun 1886 in Koscian, Poland. He died on 09 Dec 1969 in Leszno, Poznan, Poland. He married WALENTYNA WOJCIECHOWSKA in 1912, daughter of Alojzy Wojciechowski and ? Skornicka. She was born on 10 Jan 1892 in Smigiel, Poland. She died on 02 Dec 1974 in Leszno, Poznan, Poland. Antoni Dzikowski and Walentyna Wojciechowska had the following children:

1. MIECZYSLAW DZIKOWSKI was born on 31 Dec 1913 in Gostyn, Poland. He died on 05 Apr 2002 in Poznan, Poland. After he left the priesthood, he married JOANNA IRENA ? on 27 Jul 1969 in Poznan, Poland.
2. BOLESLAW WALENTYN DZIKOWSKI was born on 01 Oct 1915 in Gostyn, Slaskie, Poland. He died on 11 Apr 2000 in Boynton Beach, Palm Beach, Florida, USA. He married (A) LETITIA KATHLEEN O’MALLEY on 01 Nov 1947 in Perth, Perthshire, Scotland. She was born on 30 Dec 1916 in Cupar, Fife, Scotland. She died on 09 Oct 2006 in California, USA. He married (B) KIRA PALADINO on 12 Apr 1969 in Forest Hills, Queens, New York, USA, daughter of Vincenzo Paladino and Zinaida Ocnietska. She was born on 30 Jan 1920 in Yalta, Cremia, Russia. She died on 20 May 2008 in Boynton Beach, FL.
3. JANUSZ DZIKOWSKI was born in 1917 in Gostyn, Poland. He died in 1917 in Gostyn, Poland.
4. Your Great-Grandmother IRENE DZIKOWSKA was born on 01 Dec 1919 in Gostyn, Poznan, Poland. She married GEORGE KOSTRO on 09 May 1946 in Brussels (Bruxelles), Belgium, son of Zygmunt Konstanty Kostro and Janina Roza Gutowska. He was born on 18 Jun 1923 in Warszawa, Mazowieckie, Poland. He died on 11 Jul 1984 in New York, NY.
5. WIESLAW DZIKOWSKI was born on 01 Dec 1919 in Gostyn, Poland (Note: he was your Pra-Pra Babcia Kostro’s twin brother). He died on 03 Mar 1998 in Leszno, Poland. He married (A) OLENKA HOFMAN in Jun 1957 in Grodzisko, Poland. She died in 1968 in Leszno, Poland. He married (B) ELZBIETA SZUBERT on 24 Feb 1968 in Poznan, Poland, daughter of Hieronin Saulont and Zofia Saritecka. She was born on 08 Jul 1927. (William — your Parents, Babcia Krysia and I met Elzbieta on May 13, 2006, when we went to visit her — she now lives in the house where my Mom lived when she was a little girl, in Leszno)
6. JOLANTA M. DZIKOWSKA was born on 01 Jul 1923 in Leszno, Poland. She died on 30 Jun 2006 in Poznan, Poland. She married WLODZIMIERZ STEGAWSKI on 22 Nov 1943 in Warszawa, Poland. He was born on 12 Jul 1915. He died on 05 Nov 1967 in Poznan, Poland.

After his death, this is what his daughters wrote about their Dad, Wojcio Bolek:

BOLESLAW DZIKOWSKI — OCT 1, 1915 – APRIL 11, 2000

At age 24, Bolek Dzikowski (JI-KOV’SKI), an officer with the Polish Merchant Marines was on maneuvers at sea when Germany invaded Poland in 1939. As his second World War began, all un-captured Polish ships were reassigned to the command of the British Royal Navy for the duration of the war. Bolek would be promoted to Captain and be decorated for his crews’ heroism and his navigational skills in the Invasion of North Africa and again, for the amazing secret transfer of gold from England’s bank vaults to Canada, successfully circum-navigating schools of waiting Nazi U-boat blockades in the North Atlantic for some 30 days. He would be the last of his military comrades, his friends for life, who spent most of the war together and some of whom are laid to rest here at “Gate of Heaven.” (Plot 35 F #32)

In 1947 Bolek came to America where he would start his family in NYC while performing various construction jobs on Long Island while attending City College at night. He would go on to starting his own business, repairing water tanks atop New York’s skyscrapers until he had his first partial stroke at age 69. Retiring to Florida, he and his beloved wife Kira lived a rather simple life. A life where Kira could tend to her flowers while he could devote more time to his first love, composing patriotic music. Bolek’s music was acknowledged over the years by Presidents, Lyndon Johnson, Bill Clinton, and Poland’s Lech Walesa. He also sent his inspirational music to the Vatican and received thanks from the Holy Fathers, Pope Paul VI and John Paul II.

Bolek and Kira had a long life together with a multitude of wonderful experiences. They had a beautiful, extended family of 6 children, 9 grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren…. May they rest in peace.

===========

Boleslaw Dzikowski (in the Navy)
In 1938, Wojcio Bolek graduated as an officer from the Polish Merchant Marine Academy in Gdynia. After graduation, he worked on a British ship. When WWII started, the Polish Navy joined the British Navy. During the war, he transported food and munitions for the British Navy. After the war, he did not return to Poland because he did not want to submit to Russian rule; and then he immigrated to America.

Wojcio Bolek married (1st wife) Letitia Kathleen O’Malley (born 30 Dec 1916 in Cupar Fife, Scotland; died in California on 09 Oct 2006) in Perth, Scotland on 01 Nov 1947.

Wojcio Bolek’s decendants are (Note: Michael, Pauline and Kathleen are my 1st cousins; their children are your Dad’s 2nd cousins; and their children are your 3rd cousins) (also, note that Pauline and Kathleen are identical twins):

Boleslaw Walentyn Dzikowski b: 01 Oct 1915 in Gostyn, Slaskie, Poland, d: 11 Apr 2000 in Boynton Beach, Palm Beach, Florida, USA
…… + Letitia Kathleen O’Malley b: 30 Dec 1916 in Cupar, Fife, Scotland, m: 01 Nov 1947 in Perth, Perthshire, Scotland, d: 09 Oct 2006 in California, USA
………… Michael Stephen Dzikowski b: 11 May 1948 in New York, NY, USA
………… + Angela Christine De Guzman b: 08 Nov 1950 in Brooklyn, NY, m: 23 Dec 1967 in New York, NY, USA
……………… Michael Alexander Dzikowski b: 25 Mar 1968 in New York, NY
……………… + Carrie Lynne Donato b: 23 Mar 1973 in Media, Delaware, Pennsylvania, USA, m: 27 Oct 2001
…………………… Gavin Michael Dzikowski b: 06 Sep 2002 in Livingston, Essex, New Jersey, USA
…………………… Garett Robert Dzikowski b: 17 Feb 2004 in Livingston, Essex, New Jersey, USA
……………… James Edward Dzikowski b: 09 Dec 1970 in Ft. Wolters, TX
……………… + Stephenie Kathryn Kaesshaefer b: 31 May 1970 in Albany, NY, m: 29 Oct 1999
…………………… Andrew James Dzikowski b: 17 Aug 2001 in Morristown, Morris, New Jersey, USA
…………………… Kevin Stephen Dzikowski b: 27 Mar 2003 in Morristown, Morris, New Jersey, USA
…………………… Jack Michael Dzikowski b: 26 Oct 2004 in Morristown, Morris, New Jersey, USA
…………………… James William Dzikowski b: 16 Nov 2007 in Morristown, Morris, New Jersey, USA
……………… Dana Marie Dzikowski b: 12 Dec 1975 in New York, NY
……………… + Vincent Salvatore Gatto b: 18 Jun 1974 in Newark, New Jersey, m: 12 Sep 2003
…………………… Vincent Michael Gatto b: 29 Nov 2004 in Livingston, Essex, New Jersey, USA
…………………… Angela Marie Gatto b: 09 May 2007 in Livingston, Essex, New Jersey, USA
………… Pauline J. Dzikowski b: 11 Oct 1957 in New York, NY
………… + Robert Christopher Barry b: 11 Oct 1965
……………… Ian Fife Barry b: 15 Aug 1992
……………… Highland Skye Barry b: 29 Jul 1994
………… Kathleen Clydesdale Dzikowski b: 11 Oct 1957 in New York, NY
………… + Stuart (Charles) Walton b: 19 Aug 1960 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, m: 09 Apr 1988 in New York, NY
……………… Colin Buchanan Walton b: 02 Oct 1993 in Greenbrae, CA
……………… Rowan Letitia Walton b: 02 Oct 1993 in Greenbrae, CA
…… + Kira Paladino b: 30 Jan 1920 in Yalta, Cremia, Russia, m: 12 Apr 1969 in Forest Hills, Queens, New York, USA, d: 20 May 2008 in Boynton Beach, FL

William — I hope that you too will lead a full life.

Love,

Dziadziuś Paweł.

Back to Annual Albums OR Family Letters