Al Klugiewicz
I met Al Klugiewicz at the home he shares with his son Tim on May 16, 2016. He is the oldest parishioner at St. Casimir’s Church. He is very self-sufficient and sharp minded.
At the time of our interview, Mr. Klugiewicz was 99 years old, and was excited to learn that he was going to receive the French Legion of Honor Award for his service in World War ll, in particular the D-Day Invasion.
His military career started before the war with the Horse Cavalry in 1934. Mr. Klugiewicz was out for a few years and then called back during World War ll for the 83rd Infantry. He had seen General Patton start a new tank army from the horse army. Al had also been at President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 2nd Inauguration on January 20, 1937. He rode in a wet saddle on a horse named Napoleon.
Mr. Klugiewicz was born in Erie, and baptized at St. Stanislaus Church. He has been a member of St. Casimir’s since 1920. His parents were born in Poland; father, Teofil worked in the foundry at General Electric (same as Al,) and his mother was Agnes. Al had seven siblings, he being the fifth. They were Aurelia, Joseph, Regina, Helen, Marian,(living) Alice, and Esther.
He met his wife Eleanor Yushkiewicz in 1939. Eleanor was in the Waves. They were married in 1946 until her death in 2012.
Al’s memories of St. Casimir School was that they were taught in Polish and English. He didn’t like school. He remembers Sister Tolentina rapping him on the head with a pencil box. Mr. Klugiewicz did have fond memories of Msgr. Dlugolecki who was the nicest priest, you could ask anything; and remembers Fr. Leo Rafalowski who gave good homilies.
Al also shared his collection of pictures and we were able to watch a DVD he made of the 100th Anniversary Mass of St. Casimir’s.
It was an honor and a pleasure to meet Mr. Klugiewicz and I thank him for sharing his stories with me.
At the time of our interview, Mr. Klugiewicz was 99 years old, and was excited to learn that he was going to receive the French Legion of Honor Award for his service in World War ll, in particular the D-Day Invasion.
His military career started before the war with the Horse Cavalry in 1934. Mr. Klugiewicz was out for a few years and then called back during World War ll for the 83rd Infantry. He had seen General Patton start a new tank army from the horse army. Al had also been at President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 2nd Inauguration on January 20, 1937. He rode in a wet saddle on a horse named Napoleon.
Mr. Klugiewicz was born in Erie, and baptized at St. Stanislaus Church. He has been a member of St. Casimir’s since 1920. His parents were born in Poland; father, Teofil worked in the foundry at General Electric (same as Al,) and his mother was Agnes. Al had seven siblings, he being the fifth. They were Aurelia, Joseph, Regina, Helen, Marian,(living) Alice, and Esther.
He met his wife Eleanor Yushkiewicz in 1939. Eleanor was in the Waves. They were married in 1946 until her death in 2012.
Al’s memories of St. Casimir School was that they were taught in Polish and English. He didn’t like school. He remembers Sister Tolentina rapping him on the head with a pencil box. Mr. Klugiewicz did have fond memories of Msgr. Dlugolecki who was the nicest priest, you could ask anything; and remembers Fr. Leo Rafalowski who gave good homilies.
Al also shared his collection of pictures and we were able to watch a DVD he made of the 100th Anniversary Mass of St. Casimir’s.
It was an honor and a pleasure to meet Mr. Klugiewicz and I thank him for sharing his stories with me.
Al's Photo Collection
Altar Boys Undated
Camp Sequoyah Troup 104 1967.
Sitting: Tim Klugiewicz, Philip Murawski, Larry Oldach, Tom Klugiewicz, Tony Pol,(Retired Erie Fire Chief) Tom Jendruczak.
Standing: Johnny Mike Chrzanowski, T. Markiewicz, Ben Jendruczak Jr., Greg Klugiewicz, Jim Kowalski, Gary Bujalski.
The Bells of St. Casimir Photos by Al Klugiewicz
Click on the above photos to enlarge.
