| In Memoriam dedicated to those who have served to inspire us |
| Leonard Joseph Suligowski 1928-2008 |
| On Thursday, June 19, 2008, at 6:25 P.M. at New York City's Bellevue Hospital, Leonard J. Suligowski passed away, from complications of a stroke-induced coma, which took place on the evening of Monday June 16th, somewhere between the hours of 9 P.M. and 5 A.M., when he was found near his home computer by neighbors and tenant of his home. His son, Rik (Suligowski) Fox immediately flew in from Los Angeles to attend him. A neurosurgeon team advised Rik that there was too much irreversible damage to the brain, and that there was no hopeful outcome. It was Leonard's adamant wish not to live on any form of life-support, should anything ever happen to him. At 12 noon, a decision was made to administer a sedative and allow him to pass naturally, without discomfort or pain, which took place at 6:25 P.M. with his only surviving son, Rik at his side, 'A Polish Winged Hussar knight returned home to bury his Father'… Chevalier Leonard J. Suligowski was one of the very few Polish heraldic artists in America. His dozens of years of research on the subject became widely known and respected the world over. He was a resident of Greenpoint, Brooklyn all his life. For many years, he had been the Director of Heraldry and the College of Heraldry for The Polish Nobility Association Foundation headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, having been affiliated with them since 1975. During his tenure with the P.N.A.F., he was the recipient of the following Chivalric awards: Knight's Grand Cross in both, Royal Order of Piast and Royal Order of Jagiello, both with the titles of Chevalier. In addition, he was awarded the Polonia Restituta, Officer First Class, from the past President-in-exile for his contributions to the promotion of the arts and culture associated with Polish heraldry. He also held the title of Knight of Grace with the Sovereign Hospitaler Order of St. John, Knights of Malta. The walls of his Brooklyn home are literally lined with framed awards accolades and diplomas and certificates of various organizations as well as his Navy memories. His Glen Miller collection is famous as is his Jazz Collection from his days as a radio announcer for WGBB, Freeport, N.Y., after his Navy tenure. Chevalier Suligowski was a U.S. Navy Korean War veteran who served aboard four aircraft carriers, including the famous Bon Homme Richard, built at the Brooklyn Navy yard. He was honorably discharged with five years of service as an Aviation Machinist Mate-Second Class Petty Officer, receiving the following awards: Navy Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Citation, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal, Korean Service Medal (with Star), Korean Presidential Unit citation, Korean War Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, American Legion & VFW Service Medals. Leonard was the published author of several short stories and newspaper articles in addition to his editorial work as Editor of `The White Eagle' Newsletter Journal for the P.N.A.F. until recent years due to the organizations' internal issues. He was a Life Member of the American Legion and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Additionally, he was a member of and consultant to the Polish Genealogical Society of America. Leonard was 79 years old, passing just before his 80th birthday. He is survived by his only living son, Rik (Suligowski) Fox, in his own right, a world-famous musician/celebrity, current Vice-President of the Polish American Congress of Southern California, and founder of the `Living-History' re-enactment group originally named after Leonard: "Suligowski's Regiment," now dedicated to his memory, due directly to Leonard Suligowski's influence on his son, the last of the Suligowski line in the U.S. Rik is the recipient of dozens of awards and accolades for his own work and contributions to Polish Historical awareness and culture, and made his father very proud. Leonard Suligowski's efforts were responsible for allowing Rik's winged hussar presentation to make U.S. history, riding in the 2002 NYC Pulaski Parade. "Chevalier Leonard Suligowski was a nobleman, a gentleman, and a true patriot who served his country both in times of peace and war." He is also one of the best read historians on Polish history that anyone ever had the pleasure to know. He has been for many years one of the driving forces behind the success of The Polish Nobility Association and a number of other ventures focused on raising the profile of nobility and Polish nobility in particular. He truly touched the lives of everyone he encountered. And that is a LOT of people. Leonard J. Suligowski is now among the other great members of the Sulima Ancestry, that he researched and wrote about, both in spirit and in fact. Many have given up their lives for Poland, in many different ways. We hope that he will be counted among them, and his unceasing contributions to Polish history and heraldry, and to the Polish Cause, should never be forgotten. Bless you all, who have taken the time for a moment of silence and recognition with bowed heads, to remember the passing of a great and noble knight, historian, father, and best friend, Chevalier Leonard J. Suligowski. Rest in peace Leonard. World Response to Leonard's Passing http://www.armorial.ru/obit_suligowski.htm http://www.angelfire.com/realm/StStanislas/Obits.html Download - Memorial Speech from Old Fort MacArthur Days 2008 |
| Dr. Jerzy Feiner 1933-2008 |
| Henry P "Hank" Silka 1931-2008 |
| Born Feb. 20, 1933, in Lwow, Poland, Dr. Feiner came to U.S. in 1982. He married Anna (Kaczorowska) and was the father of Suligowski's Regiment members Pawel and Piotr and thier sister Katarzyna. Dr. Feiner earned his Master of Fine Arts from the Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts, Cracow, Poland, in 1951; Master of Science in architectural engineering, 1957; Ph.D., 1966; Dr. hab., 1975, Technical University of Cracow; postgraduate, Oslo, Norway, 1960. He was senior designer, Office of Grimsgaard and Oien, Oslo, 1963; assistant, 1957-59, senior assistant, 1959-67, adjunct, 1967-76, chairman, Luxometrical Laboratory, 1976-82, associate prof., 1977-82, Architectural Department, Cracow Technical University; visiting lecturer, Department of Art, University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), 1984-88; and chief designer, O.M. Architectural Planning, Inc., Los Angeles. He was author and creator of numerous projects and designs i.a.: Tyniec Abbey Convent (restoration), 1959, Kolobrzeg Hospital (Poland), 1968, Spatial Development and Management, Brussels (Belgium), 1969, Tourist Center, in Lago Di Como (Italy), 1970, Tourist Hotel in Kielce (Poland), 1972, Museum of Modern Art in Twardogora (Poland), 1977, House for Dean Engineering Department, Tripoli (Libya), 1980, City Hall in Capranica (Italy), 1982, West Hollywood Civic Center (CA), 1987; numerous exhibitions, i.a: Royal Gallery of Portrait Painters, London (United Kingdom), 1969, Polish Contemporary Art in Copenhagen (Denmark), 1974, Gallery of Contemporary Art, Geteborg (Sweden), 1977, Gallery of Rabensteig, Vienna (Austria), 1978, Art Center, Edinburgh (Scotland), 1981, Victoria Keri Gallery, London, and Francesco Petrarca Art Center, Capranica - Viterbo (Italy), 1982, Beverly Hills Art Center (CA), 1983, 1984, Pegasus Art Gallery, International Art Center, North Hollywood (CA), 1987, Sequoia Foothill Art Show, Springville (CA), and Toporowicz Art Gallery, Santa Ana (CA), 1991, Space Gallery, Cracow (Poland), 1992; numerous articles in professional journals and lectures at universities in many countries. He was founder and designer of the "Polish Village - Zakopane" (CA). Dr. Feiner was well honored. i.a: fellowships, American - Scandinavian Foundation, 1967, Kingdom of Norway, 1970, University of Roorkee (India), 1981, National Endowment for the Arts, 1984; 1st secretary of science, International Congress on the Restoration of Venice, 1977; Gold Gross of Merit, President of the Council of State (Poland), 1978; diploma, President of the Academy Euro-Africana, Rome (Italy), 1982; Golden Lion Medal, Scottish Princess Innez, 1980; 2nd prize, Pro-Loca Petrarca Association, (Italy), 1983; golden distinction, Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee, 1984; awards, National Endowment for the Arts, Museo Hosio, Capranica-Viterbo (Italy), 1984; 2nd place, Sequoia Foothill Arts Show, 1991. Dr. Feiner was enthusiastic about Suligowski's Regiment and proud of his sons' participation. He attended many of our events. He will be sorely missed. |
| Henry (Hank) P. Silka, an avid maritime historian, died April 15th, 2008 at the age of 76. The cause of death was due to complications of a recent heart attack. Henry was born August 10th, 1931 in Brooklyn, New York. He became enchanted with the sea as a child while observing the activities of the busy waterfront of Brooklyn as well as the greater New York Harbor region. Henry joined the United States Army in 1949 and completed Ranger Training at Fort Benning Georgia in 1951 before being deployed to Korea for 6 months. He attained the rank of sergeant and was honorably discharged in 1952. After spending several years in Southeast Asia and Japan working as a foreign press correspondent, Henry settled in Los Angeles and married Patricia Sampson in December 1959. They had one son, Paul Andrew Silka, and were divorced in 1966. After a series of entrepreneurial endeavors, Henry joined Ralph M. Parsons Corporation where he worked as a Technical Editor for nearly 20 years. Upon retiring from Parsons, Henry became a dedicated maritime historian, authoring or contributing to several scholarly pieces with special focus on U.S. Navy sail pre-Civil War, West Coast maritime commerce and 19th century shipbuilders of Brooklyn. In 1984 he authored San Pedro - A Pictorial History in collaboration with the San Pedro Bay Historical Society. He was active in several maritime organizations including the Los Angeles Maritime Museum where he served on the Foundation’s Board of Trustees and was an honorary member and past president of the Research Society. He was also a founding member of the Coastal Maritime Archaeology Resources organization, Central Coast Maritime Museum Association, and member of Portside New York. Henry’s scholarly contributions were recognized by the Huntington Library in San Marino where he conducted research for his work on Brooklyn shipbuilders and helped to mentor many colleagues engaged in maritime studies. His most recent published works include Shipbuilding and the Nascent Community of Greenpoint, New York, 1850- 1855, The Northern Mariner, and with co-author Marifrances Trivelli, Greenpoint, Greenport: At Opposite Ends of Long Island,, The American Neptune. In recent years Henry pursued his family's roots traveling to Poland to be united with family members. He was so moved by the experience he worked diligently at learning the Polish language and became an active member of the Polish American Historical Association. He is survived by his brother Raymond Silka of Manhasset, New York; sisters Stephanie Murray of Amityville, New York; Anne Knox of Sylmar, California; Joan Zimmerman of Fairplay, Colorado; as well as his son and daughter-in-law, Alicia, and granddaughters, Ana, Mara, and Ellen of Pacific Palisades. Silka was a great supporter of Suligowski's Regiment. We appreciate his contributions and will miss him dearly. |
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