Grave of the Kwieciński and Pappius families
[lot C1 018 ]
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Bogdan Józef KWIECIŃSKI
( 1895-1981 )
( 1895-1981 )
Born in Strzelno (central Poland), completed Warsaw's Military Academy with the rank of a career officer. Was a pioneer of military, sporting and civil aviation, both nationally and internationally. In World War I, served as a radio-operator in the Prussian Air Force in Palestine, was captured and became a British POW in Turkey. During the Polish-Soviet War served in a Polish reconnaissance squadron, was subsequently promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and worked at Poland's Air Force HQ. In 1927, founded Poland's Aeroclub, and took part in international flying sports competitions. In 1932, was a member of the Polish delegation to the International Disarmament Conference in Geneva. In 1935, published a book on Polish Aeronautics. Appointed military Attaché to Polish diplomatic missions in Prague and London.
During World War II, appointed Air Commodore, head of liaison between the British and Polish Air Forces.
Emigrated to Canada in 1947 to join his wife, Wanda, and daughter, Hanna. Recipient of numerous Polish, British and international awards. Died in Montreal at the age of 86.
During World War II, appointed Air Commodore, head of liaison between the British and Polish Air Forces.
Emigrated to Canada in 1947 to join his wife, Wanda, and daughter, Hanna. Recipient of numerous Polish, British and international awards. Died in Montreal at the age of 86.
Wanda KWIECIŃSKA
born ZNANIECKA
( 1902-1989 )
born ZNANIECKA
( 1902-1989 )
Born in Kujawy, studied at the School of Fine Arts in Warsaw. Married Bogdan Kwiecinski, aviator and diplomat. Mother of Hanna. Accompanied her husband to Prague and London where he served as Military Attaché. In 1940, during London's bombardment by Hitler, was evacuated to Canada with her daughter and other military families. In war-time Montreal, she organized aid to Polish prisoners-of-war in Germany. In 1942-1967, she worked as a draughtswoman for RCA Victor Co. Throughout her life, she was a talented artist in weaving and nature collages. Died in Montreal at the age of 87.
Leontyna PAPPIUS
born DUBIEŃSKA
( 1893-1976 )
born DUBIEŃSKA
( 1893-1976 )
Born near Lwow. Married engineer M. Pappius, mother of Stanislaw (below). Spent the inter-war and the war years in Poland. Emigrated to Canada in 1956 to join her son and his family. In Montreal, worked among others for Henry Morgan inc. and also volunteered in the Canadian Red Cross and the Committee to Aid Polish Children. She died at the age of 83.
Stanisław Waldemar (Staszek, Stan)
PAPPIUS
( 1921-2010 )
PAPPIUS
( 1921-2010 )
Staszek was born in Borysław near Lwow to Leontyna (above) and Marian M. Pappius. He studied in Krakow, matriculating in 1939. When WW II started he was smuggled from occupied Poland to Italy by an aunt who carried an Italian passport and from there, in January 1940, he went to France to join the Polish Army in Camp Coetquidan. When France fell he managed to attach himself to the remnants of the British Army and was evacuated to Scotland, where he immediately volunteered for service in the Polish Navy, under war-time British command. After a 10-week stoker’s course he served on HMS Kipling, KT Ouragan and ORP Kujawiak.
In 1942 he was seconded to the Royal Naval Engineering College in Keyham. He graduated in August 1945 with an engineering degree. The training at Keyham was divided between classroom work and sea-going terms, during which he served on ORP Błyskawica. After graduation he was assigned to ORP Conrad. In 1947 Staszek was discharged from the Polish Navy with the rank of sub-lieutenant and immigrated to Canada, in 1948 settling in Montreal. Staszek married Hanna Maria Kwiecińska (Hania) in Montreal in September 1950. They had three daughters, Ella (1951-2010), Barbara (1954) and Krystyna (1956) and four grandsons, Alexis Bogdan Lefebvre (1979), Ali Jan (1983) and Yousef Stan (1988) Benslimane, and Stefan Paul Pappius-Lefebvre (1988).
His first professional position was at Canadian Vickers where, as a design engineer, he participated in the development of new products for the Industrial Division. The highlight of this period was the research done at the Ecole Polytechnique in which he was involved in designing and testing for the Bersimis-1 hydro-electric generating station of a model of the tunnel intake gate, a model which was subsequently manufactured and successfully tested on site. As Sales Manager of the Mechanical Division at Dominion Bridge, he established and supervised a national sales force for the marketing of products for power stations and primary industries. As Director of Engineering for the National Harbours Board in Ottawa, Stan was responsible for the design and management of capital projects and expansions of the ports in St. John NB, Vancouver BC, Prince Rupert BC and others. Finally, as president of Stan W. Pappius and Associates, he represented major Japanese manufacturers of heavy machinery for sales to power utilities and primary industries. He retired from his profession in 1987.
Throughout his life Stan applied his knowledge of engineering to community activities. From 1956 to 1962 he was active in the Junior Board of Trade of Montreal. During that time he was delegated to the Board of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, where he supervised the re-building of the Museum’s Hickson House, seriously damaged by fire. For many years he was active in the Montreal branch of the Engineering Institute of Canada, of which he was eventually made a Fellow. After retirement he was a founding member and Chairman of the McGill Engineering Summer Employment Program (MESEP). From 1990 to 1993 he assisted members of the Engineering Undergraduate Society at McGill University, with the design, manufacture and testing of the RA Solar Powered Car.
Photography was the passion of his life. He developed an interest in it while still in the Polish Navy in Great Britain. His first camera was a box Kodak and he set up a dark room on-board ship where he processed the negative films and made prints of his shots which recorded life on a destroyer. Later in life he delighted in his many travels with Hania, which he illustrated with outstanding photographs and presented with knowledgeable comments on history and art. He joined the Montreal Camera Club in 1982 and continued to be active in the Club till the end of his life.
Stan was deeply devoted to his family. Many happy times were spent on Prince Edward Island, in Saint Sauveur, Fitch Bay and, finally, at the family cottage on Neil Lake in Pontiac County. Swimming, archery and skiing were among the many outdoor family activities which he organized. The girls learned to swim in the Simon River and the grandsons carried on the tradition in Neil Lake. The Canadian Centennial was celebrated by a summer at Expo 67 and a cross-country camping trip all the way to British Columbia the following year.
Staszek’s life spanned nine decades and two continents. It was rich with experience and alive with people. It offered opportunities and he took advantage of them with determination. He is remembered for his sense of humor and the pleasure he derived from the adventure that was his life. He died in Montreal at the age of 89.
In 1942 he was seconded to the Royal Naval Engineering College in Keyham. He graduated in August 1945 with an engineering degree. The training at Keyham was divided between classroom work and sea-going terms, during which he served on ORP Błyskawica. After graduation he was assigned to ORP Conrad. In 1947 Staszek was discharged from the Polish Navy with the rank of sub-lieutenant and immigrated to Canada, in 1948 settling in Montreal. Staszek married Hanna Maria Kwiecińska (Hania) in Montreal in September 1950. They had three daughters, Ella (1951-2010), Barbara (1954) and Krystyna (1956) and four grandsons, Alexis Bogdan Lefebvre (1979), Ali Jan (1983) and Yousef Stan (1988) Benslimane, and Stefan Paul Pappius-Lefebvre (1988).
His first professional position was at Canadian Vickers where, as a design engineer, he participated in the development of new products for the Industrial Division. The highlight of this period was the research done at the Ecole Polytechnique in which he was involved in designing and testing for the Bersimis-1 hydro-electric generating station of a model of the tunnel intake gate, a model which was subsequently manufactured and successfully tested on site. As Sales Manager of the Mechanical Division at Dominion Bridge, he established and supervised a national sales force for the marketing of products for power stations and primary industries. As Director of Engineering for the National Harbours Board in Ottawa, Stan was responsible for the design and management of capital projects and expansions of the ports in St. John NB, Vancouver BC, Prince Rupert BC and others. Finally, as president of Stan W. Pappius and Associates, he represented major Japanese manufacturers of heavy machinery for sales to power utilities and primary industries. He retired from his profession in 1987.
Throughout his life Stan applied his knowledge of engineering to community activities. From 1956 to 1962 he was active in the Junior Board of Trade of Montreal. During that time he was delegated to the Board of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, where he supervised the re-building of the Museum’s Hickson House, seriously damaged by fire. For many years he was active in the Montreal branch of the Engineering Institute of Canada, of which he was eventually made a Fellow. After retirement he was a founding member and Chairman of the McGill Engineering Summer Employment Program (MESEP). From 1990 to 1993 he assisted members of the Engineering Undergraduate Society at McGill University, with the design, manufacture and testing of the RA Solar Powered Car.
Photography was the passion of his life. He developed an interest in it while still in the Polish Navy in Great Britain. His first camera was a box Kodak and he set up a dark room on-board ship where he processed the negative films and made prints of his shots which recorded life on a destroyer. Later in life he delighted in his many travels with Hania, which he illustrated with outstanding photographs and presented with knowledgeable comments on history and art. He joined the Montreal Camera Club in 1982 and continued to be active in the Club till the end of his life.
Stan was deeply devoted to his family. Many happy times were spent on Prince Edward Island, in Saint Sauveur, Fitch Bay and, finally, at the family cottage on Neil Lake in Pontiac County. Swimming, archery and skiing were among the many outdoor family activities which he organized. The girls learned to swim in the Simon River and the grandsons carried on the tradition in Neil Lake. The Canadian Centennial was celebrated by a summer at Expo 67 and a cross-country camping trip all the way to British Columbia the following year.
Staszek’s life spanned nine decades and two continents. It was rich with experience and alive with people. It offered opportunities and he took advantage of them with determination. He is remembered for his sense of humor and the pleasure he derived from the adventure that was his life. He died in Montreal at the age of 89.