POLISH HERITAGE - MARIE HEJNOSZ Polish American Journal

Polish Heritage ********** Published Triannually by the American Council for Polish Culture, Polish American Journal, North Boston, NY Winter, 2020 page: 5, 9 ********** by Marie Hejnosz ********** To know Aleksandra is to know someone of great personal charm, great intelligence and a heart of gold. I know that, each time I see Aleksandra, I will be greeted by a beautiful smile and warm embrace. Looking at her shy demeanor, one would never know how accomplished she is. She was educated at the University of Lódz and the University of Warsaw where she received her Ph.D. in Humanities. While still a student, she published number of short stories and newspaper articles, but her true writing career took off when she began her work for Melchior Wańkowicz, a prominent Polish writer. For her help and research with his latest book, Wańkowicz dedicated that book to her, and in his last will, he bequeathed all his archives to her. ********** In the years 1977-1981 she was a member of the Repertoire of the Polish Television Theater. She created the scenario for “2 Korpus w piosenkach Ref-Rena”, a musical, for Warsaw TV in 1991. She appeared in four documentaries dedicated to: Zbigniew Brzezinski, Stanley Haidasz, Melchior Wańkowicz, and her own uncle Korczak Ziółkowski. ********** From 1981–83, she resided in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as the recipient of three writing scholarships. Since April 1990, she has lived permanently in the United States, in Wilmington, Delaware and spending nine years in Texas (Houston and Dallas). ********** My fascination with Aleksandra is intensified by the fact that she is the niece of Korczak Ziółkowski, the famous sculptor of the Crazy Horse monument in South Dakota. The monument is dedicated to the famous, brave, Native American leader. Like Aleksandra, I am captivated by the history and culture of Native Americans. I passionately collect books and other information about their way of life and their nearly forgotten culture. In today’s climate of equality for all, somehow no one remembers about those Native Americans whose way of life and culture the European invaders destroyed. **********

********** Aleksandra traveled extensively throughout the South West and beyond with her, now deceased, husband Norman Boehm. Together they visited many Native American communities and Aleksandra diligently took pictures and notes, which served as source material for her later writing. One of her books about Native Americans is “Open Wounds. A Native American Heritage”. Anyone who has an interest in our collective history should read it. ********** According to Bruce E. Johansen, PhD, University of Nebraska: “Aleksandra Ziolkowska-Boehm takes us across the United States, visiting Indian Country, with insight and compassion, raising many issues along the way with the Dr. Aleksandra Ziółkowska-Boehm eye of a traveler from overseas (the book first appeared in Poland). Few people in this country know that the first craftsmen at Jamestown were from Poland, or that the family of Polish ancestry (relatives of hers) are carving a huge memorial to Crazy Horse in South Dakota.” ********** According to Homer Flute, Apache, Trustee/CEO Sand Creek Massacre Descendants Trust, Anandarko, Oklahoma: “The book Open Wounds depicts many of the past and present problems facing Native Americans as minorities in their own country, where bias, envy and jealousies are still strong influences among the Indian people, as portrayed in the author’s story about Crazy Horse being betrayed by his own people. This still happens today. Many non-Indians are misinformed about Indians and reservations because their only source of information comes from fictional movies and books.... This book outlines the tragic obstacles encountered by sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski while carving the statue of the Lakota Sioux war chief Crazy Horse. The sculptor experienced many similar situations that parallels the Indians’ situation.” ********** Aleksandra is the author of over 30 books some written in Polish and some in English. She is the recipient of many awards and scholarships that are too numerous to mention here. ********** One of the most prestigious is the Fulbright scholarship which she received in 2006-2007 and award in 2008. Most recently, she was chosen as the recipient of the Wybitny Polak in literature award. ********** Aleksandra made her permanent home in Delaware but she travels to Poland frequently where many of her books are published and widely read. Her Polish repertoire includes books about Melchior Wańkowicz and number of other Polish personalities. Many of her books are also about the heroes of World War II describing the Polish suffering and heroism. One of her latest books on that subject is “Kaia Heroine of the 1944 Warsaw Rising”. According to Zbigniew Brzezinski, PhD, author and National Security Adviser to President Jimmy Carter, Alexandra’s book is “A moving and compelling account of what heroism entails and what suffering can be endured for the sake of a higher cause.” “Kaia” also received very positive reviews from ********** Stanley Weintraub, author of “The Last Great Victory: The End of World War II, July–August 1945, ” In pages of striking contrast, Kaia moves from a colorful, nearly idyllic life by Polish exiles in southern Siberia earlier in the last century to the graphic horrors of Nazified Poland—and then to the moving aftermath of loss and recovery.” ********** Another interesting fact about Aleksandra is that for 26 years she was happily married to a close relative of Ingrid Bergman. Aleksandra’s husband’s grandmother and Ingrid’s father were brother and sister. Aleksandra writes about this family connection in her beautiful book “Ingrid Bergman and her American Relatives.” ********** Her husband Norman was a staunch supporter of Polish causes; wrote many letters to senators and took other supportive actions. Norman’s bio and his letters to American senators are in the book written by Jan Nowak Jezioranski “Poland’s Road to NATO”. ********** On a lighter side, Aleksandra is a dedicated feline lover and in her home in Delaware, one can always find a fascinating feline. One of Aleksandra’s favorite cats was Suzie and she wrote a lighthearted book about her entitled “On the Road with Suzy: From Cat to Companion”. **********. In summary, I would like to add, that thanks to Aleksandra’s writings, my life and the lives of many others were enriched immeasurably. We are very proud to have Aleksandra as a board member of the Polish Heritage Society of Philadelphia. For additional information, see Wikipedia (both English and Polish) **********

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Senator Stanley Haidasz A Statesman For All Canadians

Aleksandra Ziolkowska-Boehm

SENATOR STANLEY HAIDASZ

A STATESMAN FOR ALL CANADIANS

Montreal 2014

ISBN 978-0-9868851-1-2

Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences in Canada, Montreal

215 pages

https://openlibrary.org/works/OL17078187W/SENATOR_STANLEY_HAIDASZ_A_STATESMAN_FOR_ALL_CANADIANS

Aleksandra Ziolkowska-Boehm’s book about Senator Haidasz is not only an engaging personal account but also a contribution to a wider knowledge about the rising social significance of the Polish community in Canada.

Zbigniew Brzezinski, Center for Strategic and International Studies, U.S. National Security Advisor for President Jimmy Carter

Stanley Haidasz described in this book by Dr. Aleksandra Ziolkowska-Boehm has left a permanent impact on the history of Canada as the first Canadian of Polish origin to enter the federal Parliament. I also believe that he was a perfect representative of his constituency. He was always accessible and never refused to give of his time and attention. He did not serve only the Polish community but helped and cared for all the
ethnic minorities. He was very popular among them and well liked.
Jesse Flis, member of Parliament for fourteen years, presently Director NATO Council of Canada, Council for Polish Studies-University of Toronto

Throughout his life, Stanley Haidasz demonstrated a strong spirit of public service and a singular dedication to bettering his community and country. A highly esteemed physician and proud member of the Polish community, he brought unique talents and perspective to Canadian political life. Spanning five decades, his distinguish parliamentary career as a Member of the House of Commons, Senator and the first Secretary of State for Multiculturalism, leaves an impressive and enduring legacy.

Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada

Stanley Haidasz was an anchor of the Polish community in Canada, and served Canadians of all backgrounds throughout his life as a doctor, Member of Parliament and Senator.”

Michael Ignatieff, Liberal Leader

He was a caring and compassionate person, starting with the dedication to his family and, beyond that, to leadership in the Polish community, remembering his roots as the son of Polish immigrants, and, of course, his service to the people of Canada.

Art Eggleton, a former Canadian Cabinet minister and Mayor of Toronto, currently Senator representing Ontario

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A sensitive biography of a Canadian of Polish background who started his adult life as a doctor and later became a senator in the Canadian Parliament. In addition to the biographical part, the book records exchanges between Haidasz and other members of Canada’s political establishment.

Sarmatian Review, September 2015

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On Thursday, August 12, 2009, Stanley Haidasz passed away. For over forty years he was a Liberal member of Canada’s Parliament, senator, and cabinet minister. In this biography Aleksandra Ziolkowska-Boehm, examines the life of the first Canadian with Polish heritage to serve in Canada’s Parliament.

Spurred to search for a better life in Canada, Stanley’s parents emigrated from Stanislawów, Poland in 1910. They settled in the Queen Bathurst area of Toronto, which was an area to which Ukranians, Slovaks, and other Polish people had moved. Thirteen years after the Haidaszs arrived in Canada, Stanley was born.

In his neighborhood and within his family everyone spoke Polish; Stanley did not learn to speak English until he started first grade. Once he learned English, he excelled in school. He also learned he had a gift for public speaking and even competed in public speaking competitions. In high school he had his first taste of politics when he worked for the campaign of Arthur Roebuck, a liberal member of the House of Commons. Roebuck won the election.

Though Roebuck’s campaign was successful, Stanley decided to pursue a different path; it would take many years for Haidasz to return to politics. He briefly attended seminary but then transferred to the University of Ottawa where he earned his bachelor of philosophy degree. Medical school came next followed by a career as a physician. During this time he met and married Natalia Gugala with whom he later had four children.

In 1957 everything changed when Haidasz was convinced by prominent members of his community to run for election for the House of Commons, representing an area of Toronto that was heavily populated by immigrants. Despite strong conservative leanings in the rest of the city, he won the election. During his time in Parliament, he staunchly advocated for immigrants, helped to pass Medicare, as well as the Clean Air Act. Stanley eventually retired from politics in 1998. His worsening health convinced him to move to a retirement home in 2005. When he died four years later, he was lauded for his tireless efforts to improve the lives of those striving to be and those who already were Canadian citizens.

About the author. Aleksandra Ziolkowska-Boehm was born in Łódź, Poland and earned her master’s degree in Literature from the University of Łódź and a Ph.D. in Humanities from the University of Warsaw. She has lived all over the globe including England and Toronto, Ontario before finally settling in Wilmington, Del., where she lives with her husband, Norman Boehm and son, Thomas.

 Mary Lanham, POLISH AMERICAN JOURNAL, Boston, NY February 2017, pg 6

http://www.polamjournal.com/News/Book_Reviews/book_reviews.html

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Senator Stanley Haidasz bvy Aleksandra Ziółkowska-Boehm

Published in 2014 in Montreal by the Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences in Canada (ISBN 978-0-9868851-1-2), Senator Stanley Haidasz: A Statesman for all Canadians, is a biography of a Polish-Canadian politician who has made a great impact on the life of the country. The publication of this book was supported by Canadian Polish Millennium Fund (Toronto), and Polish Socio-Cultural Foundation of Quebec (Montreal). (…)

http://www.biblioteka.info/haidasz.pdf

PAHA Newsletter

Polish American Historical Association Newsletter

ISSNO739-9766 Vol. 72, No. 2, October 2015

http://www.polishamericanstudies.org/pdf/PAHANewsFall2015.pdf

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Ziolkowska-Boehm’s book constitutes a good example of how ethnic minority leaders may exert a great influence not merely on their local communities but also on entire nations. In the person of Stanley Haidasz, Polish Canadians undoubtedly gained an outstanding leader devoted to serving Polonia, and above all, a man of high standards and firm convictions (….).

Radosław Misiarz, Chicago, Polish American Studies, Autumn 2017, Vo. LXXXIV, No. 2, pg.107-108

https://aleksandraziolkowskaboehm.blogspot.com/2017/10/senator-stanley-haidasz-statesman-for.html

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Letters:

April 6, 2015

Dear Aleksandra,

Thank you for sharing with me your timely book about Senator Haidasz. He deserves it and he would to be very pleased with your efforts.

With best wishes,

Zbigniew Brzezinski

 .

April 17, 2015

Dear Aleksandra,

Please accept my congratulations to you on the birth of your latest book! Brzezinski makes the important observation that you excel in educating Canadians (also Americans) in becoming much more appreciative of the social significance of Polish people in North America! You have fulfilled a very important need, and provided a strong literary service to your native homeland. I am proud to be your friend.

Sincerely,

Bob Ackerman

New Alexandria, Pennsylvania