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

Let me tell you about my faux family [faux means fake].

When I was a child, we had no family living in Argentina — the nearest family was Wójcio Bolek, in the U.S.; and the rest of our family was in Poland.

Because we did not have any “real” family, our parents created a faux family for us — close family friends became our “aunts” and “uncles.”

When we came to the U.S., even though we had a real uncle here (i.e., Wójcio Bolek), we continued the practice of calling close family friends our “aunts” and “uncles.”

In Argentina, I remember Olo (Aleksander) & Stenia Onoszko and their daughters, Elzbieta and Martynka. And, there was Stefan and Renée Hawlena, and their sons, Fredziu, Marek & Stefciu. And there was Janina Krzyzanowska.

In the U.S., there was Basia and Stach Veltze; and Basia and Bronek Paprocki, and their daughter Ewa. And, in Canada, there was Ania and Kazik Porowski, and their kids, Stach, Janek, Kazik, Wojtek, Maisia and Hania.

Olo Onoszko was, during World War II, a Polish bomber pilot in the British Air Force.

This film is mostly about the Polish fighter pilots in the 303rd Squadron; Olo Onoszko was a bomber pilot in the 304th Squadron; but, this film tells you a bit about the Polish pilots in Britain:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdetBvnjSHA

8/18/1951: Tom with his Godparents, Stenia Onoszko and Stefan Hawlena

August 1950: My Mom holding me; and Renée Hawlena holding Fred, in Buenos Aires

January 1950: Martynka Onoszko in Buenos Aires

From Argentina, the Onoszko family moved to Ottawa, Canada (some time before we came to the U.S.). When we came to the U.S., we visited each other several times, and I remember Olo Onoszko was a photographer, and he gave me a giant ancient box camera, which I still have. When I was a child, I was friends with their daughter Martynka; however, over time, we lost touch. Olo and Stenia Onoszko both died in Canada; I do not know what happened to their daughter Elzbieta; I believe that Martynka now resides in Florida or Toronto.

In Argentina, we visited the Hawlena family often. Stefan Hawlena was an attorney in Buenos Aires. Renée Hawlena was Belgian, and I believe that they married after World War II in Europe — although she was Belgian, she learned Polish, and their children grew up speaking Polish. Their marriage failed, Mr. Hawlena stayed in Argentina, and Mrs. Hawlena, with the three boys, moved to Connecticut. While we lived in Argentina, Mr. Hawlena would travel to the U.S. from time to time, and bring us back “American” toys — my favorite were the American marbles.

July 1961: Renée, Fred, Marc & Stefciu Hawlena in Connecticut

Although we have lost touch with the Hawlena family, I believe that Fred became a truck driver, and resides in Connecticut — I tried to connect with his family, but I did not receive a response from them. Marc became a jeweler in Boston; and Stefan became a pediatrician in Belgium.

April 1949: Janina Krzyzanowska, holding me

Janina Krzyzanowska, as I told you previously, was my “stand-in Godmother” — to me, she was my real Godmother, as it was her that held me during my baptism.  I remember our family visiting her in Argentina, and she was making chicken for dinner — we captured the chicken, someone (I believe it was her husband) chopped off its head, and I actually saw a chicken running around without its head! It was VERY dramatic (and memorable) for me. She later divorced (I learned that she was a victim of domestic violence), and moved to Chicago; she was also a fine art painter. I visited her once in Chicago when I was in high school or college.

Basia and Stach Veltze did not have children. When I knew them, they lived in Rego Park, Queens. I am not sure how my parents met them, but they may have met in Europe after World War II. Mr. Veltze was a Civil Engineer, and, I believe, worked with my Dad at Ammann & Whitney. Mrs. Veltze was almost totally blind (as I understand it, she could only see black and white shadows); and smoked cigarettes non-stop. They had great parties — just like the Hawlena family did in Argentina; and my Parents did in the U.S. After her husband died, Mrs. Veltze resided in Greenpoint, Brooklyn; and she died in a fire, while smoking in bed. Mr. & Mrs. Veltze are buried at the same cemetery where my Dad was buried, in Kew Gardens, Queens.

My Mom met Basia Paprocka in English School [studying English as a second language] in Forest Hills. Mrs. Paprocka is eight years younger than my Mom; so, it turns out that they were next-door neighbors in Warszawa during the War; however, they did not know each other then — at that time, my Mom was 20-years old, and Mrs. Paprocka was 12-years old.

Mrs. Paprocka worked as an industrial chemist (like Rafal’s Dad did) — I believe that she worked with soaps and detergents. What always fascinated me about Mr. & Mrs. Paprocki was that hey were distant cousins [not first or second cousins; but they may have been third cousins — I do not know how distant cousins they were]. Mrs. Paprocka’s maiden name was the same as her married name — Paprocka.

Until very recently, she resided in Rego Park, Queens. My sister Olenka used to baby-sit their daughter, Ewa. Mr. Paprocki died many years ago, and now, Mrs. Paprocka moved-in with her daughter, who resides on Long Island, with Ewa’s son (Ewa is divorced).

12/6/2015: Basia Paprocka & Irena Kostro

12/6/2015: Olenka, Ewa & Hanka

My Mom is still friends with Mrs. Paprocka; and my sisters are friends with Ewa. I believe that they will spend Christmas Eve together later this year.

I believe that my parents knew Ania and Kazik Porowski from Europe. Once we were in the U.S., we visited them in Montreal, Canada during our first major automobile trip. They had four sons – Stas, Janek, Kazik and Wojtek, a daughter – Maisia, and an adopted daughter — Hania [I do not believe that she was formally adopted — but she lived with them ever since I knew her; legally, I believe that the Porowski family were her foster family]. After that initial get-together, we continued to visit each other from time to time. We last had a  Kostro / Porowski Clans Reunion on August 14, 2010, at Elzunia’s house. Also, Stas is Malgosia’s Godfather.

8/15/2010: Pawel, Tom, Elzunia, Hanka, Maisia, Mom, Krysia, Wojtek/Andy, Hania, Like, Khalil, Olenka, ?, Anna, Kazik/Tony (Missing from the photo, because they left early: Ciocia Ania, Stas, Malgosia & John)

So, all these people are not my “real” family; but, at various times, they were the only family (other than my immediate family) that I, and my brother and sisters, had.

I hope that each of you will always be there for the rest of you — family is a GREAT thing to have.

Love,

Dziadziuś Paweł.

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