Poles in San DiegoHistory as well as social and religious life of the community
by Pia Pawel
The first mention of a Polish presence in San Diego appears on March 4th 1902. It was discovered by Professor Jozef Patyk: "On that day Thomas Nalewaja arrived in San Diego from Los Angeles to seek 10,000 acres of land ... to settle 100 Polish immigrant families on this land ... There is no trace of a realization of this plan..."
The oldest Polish organization in this area is the Polish National Alliance (Lodge 1443). The minutes of the first meeting on February 4th 1912 in Castle Hall list the new officers of the organization as follows:
Chairman citizen K.W. Engleman Vice Chairman citizen J. Lebiedzinski Recording Secretary citizen S. Krzywosz Financial Secretary citizen W. Kaczmarek Treasurer citizen S. SniegowskiMembers were: citizens Jozef Szactmayer, Jan Lakowski, H. Jasinski, J. Zakowski, H. Zychlinski, J. Witkowski. The meeting ended with the chorale Boze Cos Polske. The same document lists as organizing members of Zywiol Polski Na Zachodzie, addressing them formally as Pan (Mister): K.W. Engleman, J. Zakowski, J. Witkowski, S. Sniegowski, J. Szachtmayer, W. Ziolkowski, H. Zychiinski, J. Lebiedzinski, Krzywosz and Dr. Wicherski. Such were the beginnings. Presently the chair of Lodge 1443 is filled by the energetic founder of the folklore dance group Polonez, Ms. Ewa Chrzanowska.
Another fraternal organization in the area is the Polish Women Alliance, once very active, now somewhat reduced in numbers. It is working under the leadership of Mrs. Joan Choban.
"In 1935 a few dozen Polish families moved to San Diego from Buffalo when an aircraft factory established a branch here and transferred its employees" - wrote the late Prof. Patyk. In 1936 the Polonia CIub was organized, forerunner of the present Polish American Association of San Diego. PAA is the proud owner of a club house, a bungalow located at 1934 30th Street. In the collective memory of Polonia this place is a vision of sausage and cabbage feasts, of fowl delicately spiced and fried to dripping perfection, of mountains of home made pastry prepared and happily consumed by the diverse Polish groups on the premises of this club.
The main event on the PAA calendar is the annual May 3rd Ball, always very well attended. Adelbert Jasiczek wields the gavel at the present time, Among the numerous active members one couple stands out like a symbol of proud Polish self-awareness: Tessy and Eddie Raymond. They belong to the pioneering group which came to San Diego in 1935. He co-signed the purchase of the club house. Considering their kindness to later arrivals, one has to place them right there in front with that of the late Jerzy Pruski, the guardian angel of the helpless and lonely immigrants.
The old established organizations represent the familiar social routine. But during the critical days of December 1981 none of them could single handed lead the local Polonia in a quick, decisive effort to render effective help to our Mother Country. Seven days after the declaration of martial law in Poland all civic leaders were called by the Franciscan priest, Rev. Frederick Gorka, to form an Ad Hoc Committee, which chose the name AID FOR POLAND COMMITTEE. Father Gorka modestly withdrew. Professor Jozef Patyk was elected chairman. The officers were Mr. Ray Winkowski, Ms. Mary Claypool, Mrs. Jolanta Lewak, Mr. C. J. "Pat" Paderewski and Mr. Adam Saling. Nine members gave active support: Mrs. Jean Choban, Commander Stephen Drabek, USN, Mr. J. T. Filip, the Rev. Frederick Gorka, Mr. Stanley Lisowski, Mr. Tomasz Ostrowski, Mr. George Pruski, Mrs. Krystyna W. Saling and Mr. Joseph Wojtowski.
The fund-raising began. The local media helped tremendously by covering the events. The first was a candlelight procession through Balboa Park. In the darkness of the evening on December 23, 1981, the organizers drove with pounding hearts to Balboa Park, expecting to find only a few souls. They found hundreds of supporters with signs, candles and flags. They marched in solemn silence past the reflecting pools, toward the Polish Cottage in the heart of the Park. They carried baskets of blessed bread wafers, the traditional Wigilia Oplatki. Due to time difference, it was already Christmas Eve in Poland. The Poles proceeded to share the Oplatek with the multitude, reminding them during this solemn occasion of the fate of the Polish miners revolting deep inside the Silesian coal mines, the shipyard workers in Gdansk, all the political prisoners, and all the suffering countrymen in the towns and hamlets of Poland. They shared the blessed bread with the TV camera man who followed every move and mood, with the reporters taking notes and with the bystanders who were visibly moved. The Royal Eagle flew high in San Diego on this, the darkest night in Poland's recent history.
The Aid for Poland Committee collected funds, organized distribution in Poland through the American Red Cross and the Bishops' Conference, wrote letters of appeal and expressions of gratitude. A collection of rummage was converted at a swap meet into cash, which in turn was invested in the rental of the large Immaculata Auditorium at the University of San Diego.
With the help of Providence and the talents of Matthew Szandor, a Hungarian pianist, and Elzbieta Szczygielska, mezzo-soprano, a concert of music by Chopin, Moniuszko and Szymanowski provided hundreds of children in Poland with medical supplies and multi-vitamins. The committee workers derived profound satisfaction from their work. One member, the late Zofia Gamber collected almost one thousand dollars in donations from city bus passengers! She was eighty years old at the time, but how persuasive! Some wished to continue working for the Polish cause, even after martial law was lifted.
The Ignacy Jan Paderewski Society emerged out of this desire. The Society goals are educational and charitable. It has to its credit concerts, lectures, social work among the refugees, legal aid and many articles on Polish issues in the American press. Its co-founder and president, Adam Saling, also helped to form, and became the first chairman of the Polish American Community Council, an Ad Hoc group representing the seven Polish non-profit organizations of San Diego County. Their cooperation on various projects, for example the Polish Veterans Day, has been exemplary.
Probably the most visible of all organizations is the House of Poland, located in Balboa Park. Open every Sunday afternoon it is THE club, an information center for newcomers, and a focus of interest for all. Even Poles organized in distant Escondido in the Polish American Social Club of North San Diego County, take turn hosting in the House of Poland.
To serve there is a privilege. The ambience is charming, the scenery delightful, and the new faces always interesting: from the matron trying to decipher her Polish grandfather's birth certificate to the hungry denizens of the park who appear in the door to receive food and hot coffee. The reputation of hospitality is maintained: this is a truly Polish house.
The religious life of the Southern California Polonia reflects a tolerant diversity. St. Mary's Polish National Catholic Church's Rev. Kalata has been succeeded by the Rev. Bjorn Marcussen. His is the oldest of the organized Polish religious groups in San Diego. The services are in English, the hymns sung in Polish. Ms. Alice Engel, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Grunenberg and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Rozanski are the most active pillars of this congregation.
The Byzantine Rite Holy Angeles Church reminds us of the historic struggle of the Greek rite Catholics after the partitions of Poland. Through hard work and admirable cohesion this group of Carpathian mountaineers achieved their goal: their own church. Its airy onion shaped domes dominate the northern rim of the San Diego River valley. The saints inhabiting the sanctuary's walls seem to move the viewer from the busy Interstate 805 to distant Byzantium with its mysteries.
In June 1971 Mr. Tomasz Ostrowski - a knight of Malta - went with Mr. Krzysztof Kwiecinski and L. Kulikowski to the Roman Catholic diocese to plead for a Polish Mass. Bishop Leo Maher granted their request and assigned a Franciscan priest, the American-born Father Justynian Pawelek as interim chaplain of the newly created Blessed Maximillian Kolbe Polish Mission.
Soon after, a former Polish military chaplain, a native of the Krakow province, Rev. Frederick Gorka arrived to take over the double duties as confessor and chaplain of the Carmelite nuns and as chaplain of the Polish group.
The nuns' beautiful sanctuary of the Holy Trinity, with Diego Rivera's picture over the main altar, became the spiritual home of the Roman Catholic Poles. The enchanting rose garden and the shady portico became the social center. Father Gorka knew how to create an oasis of peace for those who were seeking it. Here his flock celebrated the election of the first Polish Pope, here it prayed for his recovery after the assassination attempt.
The chaplain's own military experiences during World War II, his African adventures where Providence chose him to be the father to nearly 700 Polish orphans who survived Siberia, were different from his youthful dreams of becoming a flying Samaritan, serving the natives of the African bush. This quiet Franciscan who had studied philosophy in Lwow and Krakow worked patiently, with quiet compassion and subtle irony. The golden jubilee of his priesthood was an unforgettable event celebrated by his flock, two dozen priests from the diocese and his fellow Franciscans. The worst fire in San Diego's history interrupted the festivities.
A stroke removed him from his beloved Mission before the age of eighty. He died on February 14th 1992 in the Franciscan Friary in Arroyo Grande, CA. All his material goods were placed on the altar during his funeral Mass. They consisted of a steel watch, four $1.00 bills and his golden jubilee invitation and prayer. A truly Franciscan legacy. So ended eighteen years of blessed harmony at the Saint Maximillian Kolbe Polish Mission.
The following four years were just wanderings in the wilderness. But the will of the flock prevailed. Parents, under the direction of Dr. Jan Anzelm and Dr. Andrzey Szmidt organized a Polish school which received full support from Rev. Gerard Oblonczek. Professor Supernak enriched the Sunday liturgy with music, often of his own compositions. Such signs of vitality must have been noted by His Excellency Bishop Robert Brom, who also descends from Polish stock. He graciously assured the Mission's continuity by placing it in the care of the Polish Missionary Order of the Society of Christ. Father Stanislaw Kowalski, S.Ch. is the new chaplain of the church. The ark is safe.
The 178 year old Indian Mission San Antonio de Pala is in the care of the Franciscan Order. Father Szczepan R. Gross, OFM Conv. (Vice-Provincial), is the pastor. He is also empowered to administer according to the Byzantine rite in the Greek-Catholic churches of the San Diego diocese. This third generation Polish American, fluent in Spanish, also provides pastoral care to a large Chicano flock in North County.
The academic community of San Diego was enriched by the late Professor Emeritus Jozef Patyk, and others, like the former Professor of the University of California in San Diego, Dr. Jerzy Lewak; the Chairman of the Civil Engineering Department at San Diego State University professor Jerzy Supernak; professor Tessa Weedon and the pianist and subtle interpreter of Chopin's music, the Chairman of the Music Department at Palomar College professor Peter Gach.
Polish scientists who achieved high status in the fields of advanced biochemistry and computer science are: Jan Anzelm, Ph.D., Krzysztof Appelt, Ph.D., the married teams of Teresa and Jerzy Barankiewicz, both Ph.Ds., and Dariusz and Ewa Wroblewski, both Ph.Ds.
In the medical field work Polish doctors: Joanna Wozniak, Andrzej Maciejewski, Henryk Kankowski, Stanley Rys, Andrzej Krotowski, Halina Szmidt and last but not least, Stanislaw Raczek, Ph.D., a psychiatrist at the US Navy Hospital and founder of the Society of Polish Psychiatrists.
Law and justice have their advocate in the person of Andrzej Zmurkiewicz, Attorney-at-Law, who has earned Polonia's gratitude for generously giving his time and talent to the Polish non-profit organizations.
The undisputed first among the performing artists is the willowy prima ballerina of the California Ballet Company, Denise Dabrowski. The aquarellist Stanislaw Sowinski has earned his reputation creating images of enchanting beauty. A part-time resident was the internationally acclaimed painter and portraitist Leszek Sobocki. Prof. Andrzej Lojszczyk's skill as a restorer of art preserved many of California's cultural treasures, including California's oldest church, the Mission Basilica of San Diego de Alcala, after whom the city was named.
The works of architect CIarence "PAT" Paderewski dominate San Diego's sky-line. Among his creations are the facade of the El Cortez building; the West Terminal at Lindbergh Field, and many schools and churches, including the Church of our Lady of Confidence and the Palomar College buildings. His late wife Maxine is missed by all who came to appreciate her organizational skill, kindness and uncommon common sense. Pat's powerful influence in California reflects his involvement in many worthwhile causes. His reputation rests on his own accomplishments.
The internationally renowned economist Jan Pfeiffer, an authority on world trade, lives in the northern part of San Diego County.
The untiring clockwork team of George and Mary Dabrowski is the envy of any organization that does not have them for its members, if there is such an organization!
In the sport world Kazimierz Deyna's name will always be remembered. He lifted the San Diego Sockers out of obscurity.
Truly impressive is the military list of Poles in San Diego. The highest ranking among them is three-star Lt. General of the U.S. Marine Corps, Leo Dulacki (Ret.), who served previously as military attache in the American Embassy in Moscow. The list of his decorations covers a full typed page!
Colonel Robert Modrzejewski, U.S. Marine Corps, earned the Congressional Medal of Honor for holding a position on the battlefield in Vietnam. Captain CarI A. Wesolowski, USN, served before his retirement as the Commanding Officer of the Naval Hospital in San Diego. Commander Stephen Drabek, USN (Ret.) brings to any action his organizational talents and Naval discipline.
San Diego was the home of the late Colonel of the Polish Air Force Stanislaw Brejnak, one of the highly decorated heros of the Battle of Britain. His bombs helped to sink the German battleships Bismarck and Gneisenau.
The very much alive Captain of Cavalry Tomasz Kepinski, formerly of the prestigious regiment of the Guards, the Belweder Light Cavalry, has received for his heroic action in the Warsaw Uprising (1944) the highest Polish decoration for military valor, the Virtuti Military Cross. Other Home Army (AK) veterans are Zdzislaw Jarkiewicz and Czeslaw Stankiewicz.
The highly decorated Captain of the Royal Air Force Stanislaw Jedlinski also makes his home in San Diego County.
San Diego was also the last home of the late Romuald Dowbor, who while serving under General S. W. Maczek, led his "Bloody Shirts" tank units to liberate Belgium from the Germans during World War II. This highly decorated soldier will be remembered as the cavalry man who made the transition from his childhood dream of being a hussar to commanding the modern, deadly effective tank units. It was not by accident that the First Armored Division chose for its emblem the ancient Hussar's eagle wing.
Jan Jachimowicz, author of a book based on his experiences in Siberia is a veteran of the Polish Armed Forces. So is his brother Miroslaw Jachimowicz, as well as Stanislaw Lenyk, Lt. S. Howard, Steve Skotak, Ted Bala, Ferdynand Chase, Stanislaw Dlugosz, Jan Ostrowski, Tomasz Ostrowski, Irena Kretowicz, Walter Kotfila, Zygmunt Kucharczyk, Jan Macioszek, Raymond Matela, Jerzy Bronicki.
The late Major Antoni Kretowicz, his brother, ensign Franiszek Kretowicz, ensign Jozef Kosciolek, corporal Zofia Sas-Topolnicka, ensign Seweryn Gajewski, Stefan Goscicki, a veteran of the war of 1918-20, and Barbara Nowak, member of A.K.
The late Pani Helena Mickaniewska should be remembered as the quintessential Polish matron. During the Bolshevik revolution she is known to have saved 40 railroad cars full of Polish orphans, who would have perished in Russia were it not for her effort. She died, beloved by all, at the age of 94.
There are hundreds of other brave Polish soldiers. This list of names would not be complete without mention of Captain Dr. James Baker, US Army. He is a Pole by affinity rather than by descent. This valiant Scot proudly wears the wings of a Polish paratrooper, the Golden Cross of Merit, and the Cross of Freedom and Independence, bestowed on him by the Polish Government in Exile in London. His admiration for the Polish Armed forces can be set as an example to all those lukewarm descendants of Piast, who take for granted the privilege and the honor of being Polish.
From: Polish Americans in California, vol. II. National Center for Urban Ethnic Affairs & Polish American Historical Association. California 1995.