On August 27, at the age of 98, our friend Mieciu Podhorecki passed away forever. I am writing our Friend because I cannot imagine that anyone at the Center would not treat him as a friend and vice versa. He treated everyone like friends.
He emigrated to the United States in 1967 and despite the deprivation of Polish citizenship by the authorities of the People's Republic of Poland, he did not cease to feel like a Pole and a Polish patriot. He was constantly in close contact with the Family in Poland and was up-to-date on Polish affairs, also acting in the organizations of the American Polish community.
From the beginning of the Polish Center, a faithful, active member and donor. Involved with his heart in his daily activities. Always ready to help in any work and in any matter. He was particularly active in the legislative work on the regulations and statute of the PC, which almost always resulted in heated discussions and disputes, as we were creating them from scratch.
A witty man, friendly to people, always smiling and in a good mood, gallant towards the fair sex, an unforgettable bridge partner, a lover of classical music. He wrote interesting reviews of performances in the Polish Center. You could talk to him on any subject, he had his opinion on all matters and did not easily give way in the discussion. He was a typical Krakus, (a Man from city Cracow) a representative of the Krakow intelligentsia. I think he is one of the last Gentlemen of the “fin de siecle” period. The world is changing, among other things, as a result of the departure of just such people.
Again, I have to quote the motto of my favorite poem by A. Waligórski about autumn: Autumn is coming, "autumn is coming, there is no help for it". It is a poem not only about the beautiful Polish autumn with Babie Lato, (woman’s summer – in autumn period in witch thread o spider’s gossamer are on the air) but also about the inexorable passing of time and our mortal existence with it.
Goodbye Friend.
Roman Koznowski
