John Peter Zdrojewski, eldest son of Ludwig and Victoria. He was a small boy when the three of them crossed the Atlantic in steerage. He sold insurance for the Prudential Insurance Company. He also was a self-employed wedding photographer. His son, Eugene, often went on jobs with him, to line up the wedding partiers for their group shots, therby acquiring for himself a lifelong habit of lining up people for photographs. JPZ always had the latest equipment, a great deal of which is in Argyle right now, and I'll show ya'.
The story is that he thought he would become a priest. He walked up to the rectory to make his intention known to his own parish priest. At the rectory gate, he paused, considered, and took a walk around the block to think it over some more. He went up to the gate a second time. He walked around the block again. He stood looking at the rectory door. Then he went home.
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3 comments:
Paul Zadner wrote me thus: "Uncle John was quite religious as the movies show and this seemed to pass unto your father. Religion was my common conversation with your Father. My father was also very religious and also Uncle Frank. I have no insights into the religion of the grandparents."
Well, Paul, I am sure that it did pass to EJZ. My Dad was devout in a way that was almost filial - filial to God, I mean, and to Mary. His religious feeling was like the love and devotion and protectiveness and sense of duty that a son would have for his father, mother, sister, brothers.
What did you discuss of religion with him? Do you have any idea if it gave him at least some comfort when he lost his sister, and then later his mother?
I know that he loved the Liturgy. And he appreciated the music and drama of a well-sung Mass, especially if the celebrant had a rich voice and the church was lovely. I remember him describing Easter morning High Mass. The church was dark, the statues shrouded in purple. Suddenly the lights went up, the shrouds were whipped off, to show the statues surrounded by lilies, the voice of the priest rang out "Gloria Allelujia!" and the organ rolled into action. Wonderful stuff.
John writes thus:
"There was a balcony on the second floor in the back on May street. And, the most famous shot, and there is film somewhere, is of Uncle Stanley jumping off of it into a snowbank! "
Wow! I've never seen a photo or film clip of that. If someone finds such a thing, please send it in!
Thanks for that tidbit, John.
Julie
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