IN SAN FRANCISCO

Plans are well underway for the celebration of Pope John Paul IIs Beatification on Sunday, May, 1st , 2011 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in San Francisco. Both the Archdioceses of San Francisco and Oakland are pleased to invite the Northern California Community to this tribute to a Great Man, Spiritual Leader and Role Model for Christian Life. The Archdiocese is also grateful to The Polish Arts and Culture Foundation’s President, Ms. Caria Tomczykowska, for coordinating this effort with Doug Benbow and Chris Tietze of the Cathedral Staff.

We are expecting over 150 participants in the Procession of Nations before the Concelebrated High Mass at 11:00am. The chief Celebrant is Archbishop (Ret.) John Quinn, with Msgr. John Talesfore and Father Dominik Ciolek.

We have invited local representatives from most of the countries He visited to participate, to wear their regional costumes or carry flags of their nations. The Cathedral accommodates over 3000 guests and we anticipate a full church.

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There will also be members of the Consular Corps, the leaders of local Polish organizations, the Polish Scouts, Polish Schools, Veterans of AK, and LOWICZANIE in the procession. Civic leaders, and the Knights of St. Francis, will also be present.

We are looking for Sponsors to help cover some of that day’s costs and all donations are tax-deductible.

Your name or your company’s name will be listed in the Souvenir Program.

Please send make checks payable to PACF or PCCP and mail to

4077 Waterhouse Road, Oakland CA 94602.

The Polish Cultural Center of The Pacific is a California 501c3 non-profit corporation.

Reception immediately following in the Main Hall.

2:00pm Screening of the film NINE DAYS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD by Newt and Callista Gingrich.

www.ninedaysthatchangedtheworld.com

Gala dinner at Indigo Restaurant at 4:30pm – all inclusive price of $65.00 per person for three course meal with wine. Reservations and pre-payment required by April 27.

Please call 510-599-2244 or reply to polishartssf@yahoo.com

Please contact us at 510-599-2244 for answers to your questions or if you would like to volunteer your help for this event.

April 08, 2011

Statement from President Obama On the One Year Anniversary of the Death of Polish President Kaczynski and His Delegation

As the people of Poland mark one year since the tragic deaths of President Lech Kaczynski, First Lady Maria Kaczynska and their delegation, I join with the American people, including many Polish Americans, in honoring the memory of these 96 Polish patriots. The images of the wreckage in Smolensk, and the loss of so many extraordinary civilian and military leaders who guided Poland to democracy and prosperity, broke our hearts. But it was the inspiring scenes of people coming together, in streets filled with candles and flowers, both in Poland and the United States, that revealed the true strength, resilience and faith of the Polish spirit, as well as the unbreakable bonds between our two countries. Poland is one of America’s strongest and closest allies, and I look forward to deepening these enduring ties, and carrying on the work of those who perished one year ago this Sunday, when I visit Warsaw next month.

Leonard had a zest for life and was known by family and friends as always having a wonderful song or witty poem to share. He loved his family and friends and golf. He had a passion for fishing from the pond in his backyard to the high seas, and his grandchildren, sons, friends and colleagues all participated.

From early on he led an accomplished life. Taken at the age of twelve from Poland, Russian troops declared him “an enemy of the revolution” and sentenced him to ten years of hard labor in a Russian prison camp. He survived this ordeal by learning Russian and working in the camp. Due to his resourcefulness he was able to escape with a group of men and made his way to Iran where The Allies then moved him to a refugee camp in Kenya. In Kenya in 1954, he was awarded a Democracy
Scholarship from the Institute of International Education that took him to Washington State University (WSU) where he lettered in men’s track and volleyball. He received his B.S. in Civil Engineering (with highest honors) in 1958 from WSU, and then went on to receive an M.S. in Geotechnical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley in 1960.

He had a distinguished career as an expert in geotechnical and earthquake engineering, and as a Senior Executive and Member of the Board of the international engineering consulting firm Woodward-Clyde Consultants (WCC), where he worked
from 1960 to 1984. In 1972, he moved to Houston, TX, to start the Texas and Louisiana operations for WCC under the name Woodward Krazynski & Associates. He loved his career and continued in private practice for many years as a Forensics Engineering Specialist.

In 1972, Leonard married Diane Bonaparte, and his family grew to include his two children and Diane’s four. In 1998, the Polish Prime Minister Buzek appointed Leonard as the Polish Honorary Consul General for Texas. In this role, he got great
satisfaction out of the work he did on behalf of the local Polish community and the opportunities he had to help bring Polish culture and art to Texas. In recognition of his contributions, in 2003, he was awarded the Commander’s Cross of Merit, Poland’s highest civilian award.

Leonard was preceded in death by his son, Scott, in 1993.

He is survived by his wife, Diane; sister, Irena Barych of London, England and her family; daughter, Kim; stepdaughters, Nancy Pritchard and Susan Thomas (husband Bob); stepsons, Rudy Bonaparte (wife Anna) and Joseph Bonaparte (wife Christine); and fifteen grandchildren.
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Mirek participated in the POLISH UNIVERSITY CLUB while at Berkeley in the 60s and was very active in the Polish community while living in the Bay Area. Remaining a dear family friend over all these years, we will all miss him but are grateful we knew him. CT

Reservations must be made
and pre-paid by December 6th.
Limited seating at both venues so don’t delay since this is always a sell-out.

Call 510-599-2244
Credit cards accepted

We are most sorry that not all of us will be able to attend and honor Dave’s openness, charm, wisdom and gracious nature. It was an honor to know him, to listen to his delightful stories, to consider his wise counsel and to call him a Friend.

Our deepest condolences to his wife Sue and his two sons, sister and extended family.
Our many cherished memories with him will give us a little solace in his absence. Dave enriched all our lives in ways he only now will know.
Thank You Dave!

May He Rest in

Please send your condolences and cancer society donations to his family
via the PACF

Caria T.

Sent from my iPhone
510-599-2244