This is a follow up to the recent event at the Polish Home honoring Polish survivors of the Soviet WWII deportations:

Hon. Paulina Kapuscinska, Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Los Angeles decorated the following people on January 19, 2008

• Mr. Ryszard Kott has been honored with the Cavalier Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland, awarded for promoting Poland abroad

• The following people have been  honored with the Cross of the Siberia Deportees awarded to the survivors of WWII Soviet deportations: Mr. Jerzy Friedrich, Ms. Genowefa Kasprzyk, Ms. Irena Goleniewska (received by the widower, Mr. Stanislaw Goleniewski), Ms. Alina Byrska, Ms. Maria Urbaniak, Ms. Anna Kochel, Ms. Romana Wal, Ms. Joanna Brodniewicz, Ms. Michalina Wojnarowska, Ms. Bozena Chodakauskas, Ms. Wanda Skrobecka (absent due to health reasons), Ms. Krystyna Balut, Ms. Helena Szendzik and Ms. Janina Kolozak. Also honored was survivor Ms. Genowefa Czyzewski who died in 2007 before the Cross could be awarded. In addition, Ms. Barbara Strutynski received her Cross of the Siberia Deportees in July 2007.

Congratulations!

St. James Cathedral

  Prof. Zbigniew Adam Pietrzyk

Dr. Zbigniew A. Pietrzyk, an active member of the Polish community and a longtime member of the Polish Home Assn. and the Solidarity Assn., died on December 16, 2007, after a long illness; he was 72.

Dr. Pietrzyk graduated from the Warsaw Technical University and made a career as a physicist. He was Professor Emeritus of the University of Washington and also Professor Emeritus of the EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland. Dr. Pietrzyk was the main Seattle activist organizing support for the underground Solidarity movement during the martial law period in Poland in early 1980s. Among others he was instrumental to creating Friends of Solidarity TV in Seattle and served as the Polish Home Assn. vice-President for Solidarity support. Dr. Pietrzyk also received the Solidarity Medal awarded for an exceptional support for the Solidarity movement from beyond borders of Poland. In recent years he was active as a volunteer and supporter of Polish Home Foundation in Seattle.

Dr. Pietrzyk is survived by his brother Boleslaw with wife Claire and children Diane, Nicolas and Guillaume of Thoiry, France, by his sister Barbara Pietrzyk of Szczecin, Poland, and by cousin Zofia Sobol of Warsaw, Poland.

Memorial Service:  on December 19, at 12:30 pm at the Hoffner, Fisher & Harvey Funeral Home, 508 N. 36^th St in Seattle. Reception follows at the Polish Home in Seattle.

Interment: at a private ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, the Family asks for donations to Polish Home Foundation, 1714 18^th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122.

Rupert Murdoch

Grzegorz Kozak

Mr. Grzegorz Kozak is a local man known to several of our readers who has been suffering from a brain tumor for the last three years. He gradually lost all his money as well as family while undergoing costly medical treatments and currently is relocating back to Poland. People who would like to help with relocation and other health costs can donate to the Polish Home Foundation (write a check to the Polish Home Foundation with a note for G. Kozak at the bottom).

More: For more details please contact Mr. Kozak’s friend Mr. Greg Szwed, tel. 253-876-0075

 Pia Friedrich

Ms. Pia Friedrich, a longtime friend of the Polish Home and a member of the Ladies Auxiliary active till her health declined, died on October 1, 2007, at the age of 84. A native of Cremona, Italy, Ms. Friedrich was a Professor of Italian in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and then a Professor of Italian at the University of Washington in Seattle. Upon marrying Jerzy Friedrich, her husband of 61 years, she developed a keen interest in Polish culture and became a fluent speaker of the Polish language. Ms. Friedrich is survived by her husband Jerzy, son Alex with wife Susie, daughter Vivien Savojni with husband Adriano and by her four grandchildren.

Interment: Per Ms. Friedrich’s request, the service was private. In lieu of flowers, people who would like to honor her memory are asked to make donations to Polish Home Foundation towards the Polish Home Remodeling Fund.

More: Pia Friedrich in family photos, PHF

  Dr. Maria Pietrzyk

Dr. Maria Pietrzyk, an active member of the Polish community, died on September 21, 2007 after a long illness. Dr. Pietrzyk was very active supporting the underground Solidarity movement during the martial law period in Poland in early 1980s and in recent years as a volunteer and supporter of Polish Home Foundation. She has also received the Solidarity Medal awarded for an exceptional support for the Solidarity movement from beyond borders of Poland. Dr Pietrzyk is survived by her husband Prof. Zbigniew Adam Pietrzyk.

Memorial Service:  on September 26, at 11 am at the Hoffner, Fisher & Harvey Funeral Home, 508 N. 36^th St in Seattle.

Interment: at a private ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, the Family asks for donations to Polish Home Foundation, 1714 18^th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122.