Dominik Joseph Widak 2 3
- Born: 19 Mar 1913, Lipie, , , POL 1 2 3 4
- Marriage (1): Kazimiera Skora on 14 Sep 1947 in Heidelberg, , BW, DEU 1
- Died: 27 Apr 2000, Alameda, Alameda, CA at age 87 2 3 4
- Buried: Oakland, Alameda, CA 2 3
Another name for Dominik was Dominik Jozef Widak.1
FamilySearch ID: GNHP-2NY.
Noted events in his life were:
1. He immigrated on 20 Sep 1949 to New Orleans, Orleans, LA. 1
2. Occupation: drill operator on 2 Sep 1958 in Oakland, Alameda, CA. 1
3. Residence: 624 62nd St., Oakland, CA on 2 Sep 1958 in Oakland, Alameda, CA. 1
4. Obituary: on 27 Apr 2000. 5 Dominik Jozef Widak
soldier, patriot
March 19, 1913 -- April, 27, 2000
When in 1939 Soviet Russia attacked Poland, 27 year-old Dominik Jozef Widak was captured by the Russians and thought that there was no salvation for him. He decided to escape and go abroad. After an exhausting 150 mile march he was able to reach Romania, then friendly to Poland. Stopped after crossing the border, he was sent to a military camp. From Romania he travelled through Bulgaria and Yugoslavia to reach the Polish Armed Forces in France. His unit fought in the bloody battles on the Maginot Line in June 1940. When the Germans took France he was again placed into captivity, this time by the Germans. For five years he was forced to work in a lignite mine for 16 hours per day, seven days a week.
After being liberated by Americans, he enters the U.S. Army. There he serves until 1949.
In 1947 he married a Polish woman, Kazimiera, who worked for a German farmer. They were married by Fr. Wajda, whom they later would again meet in California.
At the end of 1949 the Widaks, and their 18 month child, started a new life in the United States. First they were in New Orleans, then on a farm in Kansas, to find work with the Union Pacific Railroad.
In 1952 Fr. Wajda, who at the time of their arrival in the United States lived in California, persuaded them to move to the West Coast.
After settling in Oakland Mr. Widak found work as a train engineer with Bethlehem Steel in Alameda, where he worked for 21 years until three spinal operations forced him into retirement.
From 1975 he was the president of the Polish Home. When he arrived the building was in a very poor state; the roof leaked, the windows were broken. He was most annoyed when unfriendly Poles derisively called the place a "shed." Despite great financial difficulties, during his term of office a sidewalk was installed around the Polish Home and the parking lot was paved with asphalt.
The Widaks knew well Janina Pawlowska from Sonoma, a philanthropist ill with cancer. In her will she gave her house to the Polish Home.
Mr. Widak worked selflessly for Polonia and the Polish Home, participated in the life of Polish Catholics, also working with the American Red Cross. He was a director in the St. Stanislaw Society.
In 1975 he was chosen president of the Polish Home. At the same time he and Colonel Sliwinski founded the Circle of WWII Veterans where he became vice-president.
When Fr. Barycki came to San Francisco in 1976, Dominik became actively involved in the work of the Polish Catholic community. He served at the first mass which was said at the Polish Home on February 2, 1976.
His birthday falls on March 19, and he remembers all the important dates, and is a wonderful storytellers. It does happen however, that his wife will correct a name or a date, but one must admit that Domink knows well the history of post-war Polonia in San Francisco.
During his term of office the library received particular attention. He was also able to collect several valuable paintings. Today the library is smaller, and the more interesting paintings are gone from the walls of the Polish Home.
Together with the pastor of the Polish parish he assisted the new immigrants during the 1980s. There were many interesting young people. Among them were some who indeed have been humiliated by the communist rulers of Poland and with them it was easy to establish contact and involve them in social work. But there were those whose provocative behavior at public meetings and Polonia events gave indications as to the reasons for their emigration. Therefore a part of our countrymen who came to America directly after the war, had reservations as to these young immigrants.
In 1977 Mr. Widak became the president of the Literary-dramatic Society, whose membership he raised to 80 persons. Many devoted Polonians cooperated with him in organizing various cultural meetings and events. After him the leadership of the Society was taken over by Ms. Helena Kurek.
Mr. Rubin was proud that during his term as president Bishop Rubin made a visit along with 4 archbishops, 5 bishops, and future Pope John Paul II where they sang "Goralu czy ci nie zal.." [the Highlander Song] together. At the time when he visited San Francisco Karol Wojtyla was a Cardinal. At the time President Rozmarek of the Polish National Alliance was a guest of the Polish Home.
The walls of the Widak home are decorated with many certificates and medals, letters of recognition and many photographs. He received the Cross of Valor, as well as the WWII Combatant's Cross from the French government the Gold and Silver Crosses of Merit were given to him by the Polish Government in London, also the medal for 5 years in captivity, the Cross of the 1939 Campaign, and many thank you letter and certificates from the U.S. Senate and the Polish Pope, among others.
The Widaks have 2 daughters and a son (one daughter died) and 5 grandchildren. In September of 1997 they will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. In this much praise goes to Kazimiera, who through her patience and goodness could forgive her husband for all the time he devoted to social work at the Polish Home, church societies and other Polish organizations around San Francisco bay.
May our sincere wishes for good health be our expression of gratitude to Mr. Dominik Jozef Widak for his devotion to Polonia.
From: "Nasz Dom" [Our Home] Nr. 2, 1997
Memoirs of Polish Patriots of Northern California
Translation: Peter J. Obst (2007).
5. Obituary: Obituary of Domink Joseph Widak on 27 Apr 2000 in Alameda, Alameda, CA. 3 In Alameda, April 27. Age 87 years. Beloved husband for 53 years of Kazimiera Widak. Loving father of Cris Alcalde of Livermore, Mary Adkins of Oakland, the late Eddie Widak and the late Diane Grande. Dear grandfather of Kim, Scott, Jessica, Lisa, Michael, Nick, Jordan and Diniesha, and great-grandfather of Megan. Also survived by a sister and brother in Poland. A native of Lipie, Poland, Dominik was past president of the Polish Club in San Francisco and was active in the Polish American Society, also in San Francisco. He volunteered for the Red Cross in Alameda and was a member of Polish Veterans Post 49, as well as being active in the Catholic Church. Services have been held. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1700 Webster St., Oakland, CA 94612. For further information, please call 865-3755. Greer Family Mortuary.
Dominik married Kazimiera Skora on 14 Sep 1947 in Heidelberg, , BW, DEU.1 (Kazimiera Skora was born on 24 Dec 1924 in Lopuszka Wielka, , Przemysl, POL,6 died on 12 Sep 2009 in San Leandro, Alameda, CA 6 and was buried in Oakland, Alameda, CA 6.)
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