WALKING TOUR OF CROATIAN HISTORY IN NEW YORK

[NYCROATS.COM Staff]

By Katarina Tepesh

"According to records available from the Department of State, first
ships from Dalmatia to New York arrived in 1797," says Croatian
genealogist Adam Eterovich www.croatians.com. The first Croatian
captain on the ship "Postojani" was Luka Gerich, followed by Mato
Fiskovich.

Due to economic conditions in the 1800's Croatians came to America to
look for work. "S trbuhom za kruhom" they headed in search of a better
life. Many Croatians were landless peasants, driven out when the
country failed to industrialize. Croatia easily ranked the highest in
the percentage of small peasant proprietors on the land. Leaving the
rural villages, Croatians had most difficult time reaching America.
One word description comes to mind "krvavo". They universally
suspected immigration agents of excessive charges and bad advice and
composed a rhyme on their experiences: "Jer agenti varalice jesu, samo
za se napunjaju kesu." Translation: "For the agents are surely
swindlers, since they are always lining their own pockets."

Despite the hardships and obstacles, Croatian people have succeeded in
America, or for the purposes of this article in New York. The
tremendous struggle to first reach the American soil and then to learn
and assimilate is proven by how many of our people have changed their
names and consequently lost connection to the Croatian community.

New York City is one of the most vibrant, vital cities on earth.
www.go-newyorkcity.com In New York one can take a tour of Croatian
history:

The first Croatian church in Manhattan opened in 1913 on West 50th
Street. First priest serving Croatian people was a Slovene. Fairly
small church serving big community transferred in 1954 to a much
larger church and hall at 502 West 41 Street called Sts. Cyril &
Methodius Croatian Roman Catholic church. The church is exceptionally
beautiful with its stained glass windows. Close to 2000 devoted
parishioner's celebrated 90th anniversary during 2003. Two Franciscan
Friars and two nuns are serving the Croatian community, including
visiting the sick. The nuns are teaching Catechism, Croatian language
and religious songs to youngsters. The ethnic dancing "kolo" group
"Cardinal Stepinac" performs regularly. Outside and inside you can see
huge Croatian Coat of Arms and a large sign "Bog i Hrvati." or
"Croats! God be with you." The church holds the sculpture of Cardinal
Alojzije Stepinac (1898-1960) by Ivan Mestrovic who was a great
Croatian artist. Attached building to the church is the Croatian
Center or the Sveti Nikola Tavelic Hall, where one can see well
preserved wall paintings by talented artist Zvonimir Mihanovic. Born
on August 12, 1946 in Sitno Polje near Split, Mihanovic painted the
famous scenes of Zagreb, Dubrovnik, Split, Mostar, Sarajevo, etc.
Mihanovic draws inspiration from the picturesque harbors, tranquility,
the small harbor and the few fishing boats used by solitary anglers
along the coast, marine vistas and small villages scattered.
Mihanovic's ability to calm the soul through his work in oil is
legendary. www.mihanovic.com

The spacious basement of the church served as the center where we
collected first aid to Croatia from June 15, 1991 until 1995 during
brutal attack by Serbs. In the best Croatian tradition, thousands of
us volunteered by giving generous donation of our time, energy and
valuable resources towards the success and continued progress of
independent, peaceful and democratic Croatia. We also received help
from generous Americans, including the popular actor and activist
Martin Sheen.

For decades after the Civil War, Hell's Kitchen on the New York City's
West Side between 14th and 52nd Streets, from Eighth Avenue to the
waterfront was considered very rough neighborhood full of
slaughterhouses, railroad yards, gas works and docks. This was the old
Croatian neighborhood a hundred years ago when shipping was
prominent.

The Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, at 64 St and Broadway, is
a place was many Croatians have performed. The first Croatian national
opera was composed in 1846 by Vatroslav Lisinski called "Ljubav i
Zloba".

There are prominent photos of two famous Croatian opera singers Milka
Ternina and Zinka Kunc Milanov on the wall of the Metropolitan Opera.

Milka Ternina (1863-1941), born in Vojni Kriz, Croatia. Began her
career in Zagreb in 1882 as Amelia, went on to Graz and Vienna. Her
fame dates back to Bremen in 1886. In 1890 the Bavarian Royal Opera
engaged her. Years of triumph followed. Through her appearances at the
Bayreuth Festivals and in several European capitals, Milka gained
prominence at the height of her career as the foremost Wagnerian
soprano in the world. For nine seasons she elated American audiences
at the Metropolitan Opera. She was Met's first Tosca performing with
Enrico Caruso. She was hailed by the great Italian conductor Toscanini
as the "world's greatest artist," with repertory of 85 roles. In 1906,
Milka Ternina returned to her native Zagreb, forced by paralysis she
retired in 1916. But in Zagreb, Milka discovered the young Zinka Kunc,
coached her for three years and gave to the Metropolitan Opera one of
its shining talents. http://www.historicopera.com/ or
www.croatianmall.com/croatia/franolic/milka-ternina.htm

Mira Teresa Zinka Kunc Milanov (1906-1989), was born in Zagreb. She
was widely acclaimed for her operatic talent and even now opera lovers
say when Zinka stopped singing, it was the end of an era. Zinka gave
298 performances at the Metropolitan Opera plus 123 on tour. Starting
in 1937, Zinka had the honor to open the season four times. Considered
among the great artists, she covered Verdi, Puccini, Bellini, Mascagni
and others. During 29 seasons at the Metropolitan she sang Leonora,
Aida, Gioconda, Tosca, the two Amelias, Santuzza, Maddelena, Norma,
Donna Anna, Desdemona and Elvira. Zinka was considered "primadonna
assoluta, la Regina Della casa". Zinka was extremely proud of her
American citizenship. http://www.bassocantante.com/opera/
milanov.html , www.naxos.com/ or www.hr/darko/etf/et12.html

The gift shop at the Lincoln Center is still selling cassettes of
Zinka's operas. Unfortunately Milka's voice is not preserved, as
during her lifetime recording was not perfected. Just as the great
prima donna Milka was teaching Zinka, she too was teaching among
others, Rosalie Olinski. After Zinka's death, Rosalie performed at a
concert in honor of Zinka where she sang the old favorites of Zinka's
including "Domovini i Ljubavi", "Gor Cez Jezero", "Daleko Je Moj
Split", "Pastirica", "Ko Lani Sem", etc.

Bozidar Kunc (1903-1964), composer and pianist. He often acted as
accompanist and mentor to his world famous sister Zinka Kunc.

Ilma di Murska or Ema Puksec (1834-1889), the "Croatian Nightingale",
as the Viennese used to call her. Ilma di Murska was born in Ogulin.
After studying singing in Zagreb and Graz, she went to Vienna in 1860.
In 1862, di Murska made extraordinarily debut as Queen Marguerite de
Valois in Meyerbeer's Las Huguenots, at the Pergola Theatre in
Florence. After triumphant appearance in Italy, Barcelona, Budapest
and Berlin, di Murska made her debut at the Royal Opera in Vienna as
Leonora in Verdi's Il Trovatore, in 1864. In Vienna she sang in 17
different roles, and performing in 229 operas and 8 concerts. After
appearing in Berlin, Paris and Hamburg, di Murska first appeared in
London at Her Majesty's Theatre in 1865 as Lucia di Lammerinoor where
she sang brilliant soprano. After 1871 she settled in America and was
offered in 1880 a professorship of singing at the National
Conservatory of Music in New York. She died on January 14, 1889 as one
of the great singers in operatic history. www.historicopera.com

or www.matica.hr or www.croatianmall.com/croatia/franolic/ilma-di-
murska.htm

Vladimir Ruzdjak (1922-1967), opera singer baritone and composer. He
was born in Zagreb. From 1962-1964 he performed at the Metropolitan
Opera. During his 40 year career, Ruzdjak gave over 2500 performances
mostly in Zagreb and Hamburg.

Biserka Katusic Cvejic (1923), born in Krilu-Jesenice near Split. She
was world-renowned mezzo-soprano. From 1961 she was a constant guest
at the Metropolitan Opera.

Marko Rothmuller (1908-1993), born in Trnjani near Slavonski Brod.
Composer, bass-baritone performed at the Metropolitan with debut in
1952 and in Europe. He recorded for EMI.

Ljiljana Molnar-Talajic (1938), born in Bosanski Brod. She was a guest
at the Metropolitan Opera, most famous for her interpretation of Aida
at La Scala, Covent Gardens and Vienna.

Ruza Pospis-Baldani (1942), born in Varazdinskim Toplicama. Mezzo-
soprano performed Magdalena in Riggolette at the Metropolitan Opera
first time in 1966. She received an engagement in 1970 at the Met as
Carmen. Ruza also performed at the Carnegie Hall. www.foi.hr/~neven/
vzhist3.htm or www.matica.hr

Giorgio Surjan (1954), born in Rijeka. Opera singer bass performed at
the Met during '97-98 seasons.

Majda Radic (1933-1984), born in Sibenik. Mezzo-soprano performed in
the US.

Boris Martinovic (1955) born in Zadar. Opera singer, bass-baritone was
the youngest member of the Metropolitan Opera at age of 20 performing
with Renata Scotto, while he was on full scholarship at The Julliard
School of Music. Had a concert in 1978 at the Carnegie Hall and
performed with Placido Domingo in Washington and Split.

Mia Slavenska (1914-2002) was born in Slavonski Brod and became a
ballerina of the Zagreb Opera from 1930-33. Mia also studied in Vienna
and joined the Paris Opera in 1933. In London Mia danced with Anton
Dolin before joining the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo (1938-42).
Slavenska starred in wonderful French film, La Mort du Cygnet (1938).

She later formed her own company, Ballet Variante. In 1953 Mia
established the Slavenska-Franklin ballet company with Frederic
Franklin. In 1950's she was primabalerina of the Metropolitan Opera in
New York. By the end of her career she was teaching in Los Angeles,
California. Said to be fearless on stage and in life. http://
www.croatianmall.com or www.hr/darko/etf/et12.html

Josip Kasman or Giuseppe Kaschmann (1850-1925), born on the island
Mali Losinj, the youngest of 14 children, proclaimed baritone, and the
first Croatian that had opportunity to sing at the New York
Metropolitan in 1883 as Hamlet. First studied law, then opera and
performed at La Scala, Covent Gardens and elsewhere.

Louis Svedenski, (1862-1926) was born in Osijek. The violinist had a
long and successful career in the United States. He studied in Zagreb
and Vienna. In 1885, he accepted a bid from the Boston Symphony
Orchestra as first violinist. He played the viola for the Kneisel
Quartet for 33 years and was the director of New York's Institute of
Musical Art. On many occasions he toured America and Europe.

Zlatko Balokovic (1895-1965), famous violinist virtuoso and political
activist. He was born in Zagreb. During the peak of his career during
the 1920's and 1930's, he performed throughout the entire world. His
papers are part of the University of Minnesota, Croatian American
Collection http://www.1.umn.edu/ihrc/croatian.htm

Emil Blazevic, (1880-1960) born in Kraljevica. A famed teacher of
music and singing, he had his own school of music in New York. For
more then fifty years he contributed as a singer, composer, conductor
and popularizer of the tamburitza music.

Ivo Pogorelic (1958), world-renowned pianist. He received his first
piano lessons at the age of seven, and went to Moscow at the age of
twelve to study at the Central Music School and then at the
Tchaikovsky Conservatory. In 1976 he began intensive studies with the
renowned pianist and teacher Aliza Kezeradze with whom he was married
from 1980 until her premature death in 1996. He won numerous
international competitions. Ivo gave his debut recital in New York's
Carnegie Hall in 1981. He recorded mostly Chopin. http://
www.cosmopolis.ch/english/cosmo4/pogorelich.htm

Lovro Pogorelic (1970), world-renowned pianist performed at Carnegie
Hall several times with numerous international concerts. The works of
Russian masters as well as Chopin have a significant place in his
repertoire. Since 1998, Lovro has taught piano at the Academy of Music
in Zagreb. In 1999, he founded The Summer Festival in the town of Pag
and continues to serve as its artistic director. In 2001, he started
teaching at the Lovro Pogorelic Summer Piano School in Koper,
Slovenia. He lives in Zagreb, Croatia. http://
www.lovropogorelich.com/

The Bryant Park, the corner street sign on Sixth Avenue and 41st
Street in Manhattan reads Nikola Tesla (1856-1943) A great inventor,
Tesla had at least two labs in Manhattan. He spent his last days
feeding pigeons in his beloved Bryant Park. Tesla was born in the
village of Smiljan, Lika, Croatia. He came to New York in 1884. Tesla
was a physicist, and one of the greatest scientists in the fields of
electrical engineering. He projected the first hydroelectric power
station at Niagara Falls using alternating induction (Tesla - T) was
named after him. He died on January 7, 1943 in his room at the Hotel
New Yorker. Tesla is portrayed in movies and several books.

It is not widely known that the first hydroelectric power plant in the
world has been built up in Croatia, on the beautiful Krka waterfalls.
It brought light to the city of Sibenik. It was built in 1895, one
year before Nikola Tesla's famous power plant on the Niagara Falls.
The chief engineer was Ante Supuk. http://www.hr/darko/etf

One of the symbols of the United Nations is the "Horsewoman", a
sculpture of Anton Augustincic (1900-1979), which graces the garden in
front of the United Nations at 46 Street & First Avenue, on the East
side. The sculpture "Horsewoman" is a depiction of the Spirit of
Peace. The bronze, female equestrian figure symbolizing the United
Nations, in right hand holds the globe and in left hand holds the
olive branch as a sign of Peace on Earth. In conversation with
journalists at the opening of the monument in December 1954,
Augustincic said that Peace is a woman because "if politics could be
ruled by women, there will be no war!". The monument has 10 meters
high stand, which is made of the marble from the island of Brac. The
equestrian sculpture is 5.5 meters high. Note one hoof raised; "Peace"
is always wounded, never dead! http://mdc.hr/augustincic Augustincic
was born in Klanjec in the Sutla river valley, surrounded by the
lovely hills of Zagorje strewn with vineyards and green meadows. He
studied under guidance of Ivan Mestrovic. Augustincic sculpture
"Sleeping Girl" is the trademark of Klanjec. The place is known for
its rich cultural tradition featuring prominent Croatian artists like
Antun Mihanovic, poet and author of the Croatian national anthem.
Zagorje is also the birthplace of Mirko Drazen Grmek (1924-2000) born
in Krapina. He was director of International School for History of
Science in Naples, Ischy, and Annecy, editor of several professional
science lexicons as well as author of about 30 books. Grmek was the
first president of Almae Mater Croaticae Alumni in Paris. AMAC also
has a chapter in New York/New Jersey region.

Franjo Tudjman (1922-1999) born in Velikom Trgoviscu in Zagorje,
politician who founded HDZ. Tudjman was the first President of
independent Croatian state. He visited New York several times.
www.croatiaemb.org/tudjman/biography.html

Josip Broz, often known by his military title as Marshal Tito
(1892-1980) born in Kumrovec, Zagorje. Broz was the seventh of fifteen
children born to Roman Catholic peasant parents. He was a politician
and statesman. Tito, a Croatian Communist, founded partisans. Tito
visited the White House and US in 1960, 1963, 1971 and 1978. He spoke
at the United Nations. www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cold.war/kbank/profiles/
tito Tito and the late Mayor of New York City, Fiorello LaGuardia
played chess game together. Fiorello worked in Rijeka and spoke
Croatian fluently.

On October 11, 1991 Croatians held one of the biggest of several
demonstrations in front of the United Nations for peaceful
independence and against war in democratic Croatia.

The magnificent mountain of Velebit, and the famous Primosten
vineyards offer the unique beauty of Croatian landscape, where folk
builders used dry stonewalls to protect every handful of soil from
being washed away from the arid rocky terrain. Thus an amazing rocky
lace of Primosten has been obtain over the centuries, whose large
sized photo can be seen inside the building of United Nations at 1st
Ave & 46 St. www.un.org

The white marble from the island of Brac, near small and lovely
village of Pucisca, is highly appreciated among sculptors. Pucisca has
a great tradition in stonemasonry. It was also used in building of the
Battery Park in downtown New York www.thebattery.org

Ivan Mestrovic (1883-1962) born in Vrpolje, Slavonia. As a sculptor,
he was influential throughout the world. He has six magnificent bas-
reliefs at the Hunter College School of Nursing, 425 East 25 Street.
Partially it can be seen on their website at http://
www.hunter.cuny.edu/health/nursing.html Born in 1883 in the Croatian
village of Vrpolje in Slavonia, Mestrovic was the son of poor parents,
who were unable to provide their talented son with the education he
needed. So he tended sheep, living an isolated life in the Slavonian
countryside. Eventually, however, his boyhood carvings in wood and
stone attracted attention, and local monks gave him some work carving
for them. When he was 15, he was introduced to a retired army officer,
who started a fund to allow Mestrovic to receive some formal training.
Finally, Mestrovic's father took him to the city of Split, where he
was apprenticed to a marble carver. A late immigrant to America,
Mestrovic's formative and early productive years were spent in his
homeland and in other nations in Europe. After World War II, however,
disillusioned with Croatian dictator Josip Broz Tito's communist
government, he came to America. He joined the art faculty of Syracuse
University in upstate New York. Later, Mestrovic moved to the
University Of Notre Dame, where he lived until his death in 1962.
www.geh.org/link/sn/mestrovic.html

Mestrovic sculpture "History of Croatia" portrays a woman sitting down
with her head high, looking straight ahead towards the future, with
her hands folded in a sign of prayer and holding a book, "History of
Croatia." This beloved artistic portrayal is all time favorite of
Croatian people and widely copied among artists. According to
Mestrovic will, there are only four originals located in Split,
Zagreb, Belgrade and Pittsburgh, in the offices and museum of the
Croatian Fraternal Union of America or CFU, which was founded in 1894.
CFU also holds the Croatian national string instrument tamburitza,
which is one of the hallmarks of Croatia. The orchestral tamburitza
play started in Osijek in 1847. CFU has number of chapters in New York
area, including "Lodge 1990 Kralj Tomislav", "Lodge 789 Slobodna
Hrvatska" and "Lodge 1981". www.croatianfraternalunion.org

Kristian Krekovic (1901-1985), an outstanding artist, born in
Koprivina, near Tuzla. His art appears in the Law Library Columbia
University and the Ambassador Hotel, 1956 in New York. His extensive
opus of 143 large formal works, devoted to Croatian history, including
63 portraits of Croatian Dukes and Kings (from Porga from 620 till
Stjepan Tomasevic in 1463), was unfortunately not preserved. Krekovic
moved and worked in Peru, where he signed himself as "pintor croata or
pintor croata - peruano."

Oton Gliha (1914-1999) depicted through his paintings his poetic
impressions about hundreds of kilometers of dry stone walls called
grimace, built on numerous Croatian islands during many centuries.
Some of his paintings are held in the Guggenheim Museum, New York, the
Tate Gallery and Italy as well as France. Gliha's art reveals an
intimate relation between grimace and the structure of the Croatian
Glagolitic Script.

Josip Crnobori, (1907) born in Banjole, Istria. He attended the
Academy of Fine Arts and the University of Zagreb. As a painter, Josip
had his first solo exhibition in 1937 and in Trieste in 1946. He moved
to Argentina in 1947 until 1978. Moved to New York where he portrayed
Milka Ternina for the Metropolitan Opera in 1985 among many others,
including former President Reagan.

Frank Zotti, a banker and real estate owner in the 1920's downtown
Manhattan, near Wall Street. He was a powerful steamship agent who had
over 300 agents recruiting passengers in Europe during peak
immigration. www.newyorkfed.org

Frank Zachary (1914-199?), the son of Croatian immigrants. As a writer
he had a 60-year career in publishing, as an editor, art-director and
publicist. He was called catalyst-in-chief. http://www.aiga.org/
content.cfm?contentalias=frankzachary

Narodni List or The National Gazette, was a daily Croatian newspaper
in New York from 1898-1920. Copies of the newspaper are still
available to see at the New York Public Library-Humanities and Social
Sciences at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street. It is one of the largest
public libraries in the world, and arguably one of the best examples
of Beaux Arts architecture. Microfilm of Narodni List is available
at the University of Minnesota, the Croatian American Studies Fund.
The Narodni List, was followed by weekly Domovina (1916-1917), tri-
weekly Hrvatski List (1922-1928), Danica Hrvatska (1930-1941), New
Yorski Tjednik (1973); http://www1.umn.edu/ihrc/endw-ccro.htm

Among highly accomplished second generation of Croatians is Gene
Rayburn (Jeljenich) (1917-1999) who was a comedian, announcer and
television host. Before TV, Rayburn appeared on the daily radio
program on New York's WNEW. Daniel Antonovich with origins fro

Antonovich with origins from Brac, was the fashion retailer in the
garment center in the 70's and 80's. Gary Susnjara (1939-1993) was CEO
of Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising.

Dr. Henry Suzzalo (Zucalo), (1873-1933) Born in San Jose, California
had a long and distinguished career in education. He received degrees
from Stanford and Columbia University, Ph.D. 1905. After a period as
professor of elementary education and the philosophy of education, he
assumed the presidency of the University of Washington in 1915 until
1926. During his tenure, he made Washington an important university,
increasing enrollment, raising academic standards, and creating new
programs. In 1927, he became chairman of the Carnegie Foundation for
the Advancement of Teaching. He served as president of the foundation
from 1930 until his death in 1933. Suzzallo also served as an advisor
to President Woodrow Wilson during World War I, and was appointed to
the War Labor Policy Board in 1918. He was concerned about Croatian
immigrants throughout his life, and he never forgot his Dalmatian
heritage. In his life and his work, Suzzallo promoted the democratic
ideal. He believed in the great possibilities of American education
and in its capacity to serve the individual searching for fulfillment.
His books "Our Faith in Education" are examples of the commitment he
always felt to the children of America.

Janko Polic Kamov (1886-1910), a writer, he died very young at the age
of 24. He was a distinguished representative of Croatian and European
avant-garde literature. This little known and very original writer was
discovered more than 70 years after his premature death. Some
distinguished American literary theorists consider him the greatest
literary discovery of the 1900's in America. Polic-Kamov's short story
"Freedom" was published in the New York magazine "Grand Street" in
1996. He was also published in Boston, California and Spain, where he
died.

Bogdan Radica (1904-1993), born in Split. He had a long and productive
career as a journalist, cultural and literary critic, diplomat and
professor of modern European history at Fairleigh-Dickinson
University, New Jersey. In October 1945 he received an exit visa for
Bari, Italy. In '46 he returned to New York where Reader's Digest
published his article "Yugoslavia's Tragic Lesson to the World." He
wrote numerous articles on his conversion from a Yugoslav and pro-
Communist to a convinced Croatian patriot and anti-Communist. He
divided his time in retirement between living in New York City and at
his estate near Florence, Italy.

Dr. Radovan Pavelic (1911-199?), born in Zagreb where he graduated in
1936 from University of Zagreb Medical School. He completed residency
1954-57 in New York specializing in Otolaryngology (Ear, nose,
throat). Dr. Pavelic published 28 scientific articles in the field of
otolaryngology. His son Radovan is a NYC lawyer.

Joseph Hitrec, a writer from Croatia. He came to America after years
of wandering, mainly in India. In 1946, he published "Ruler's Morning
and Other Stories," tales set in India. He has also published "Son of
the Moon" (1948) and "Angel of Gaiety" (1951). He taught creative
writing at the State University College in Buffalo, New York. Hitrec
reviews were published in the New York Times Book Review and the
Saturday Review. He translated into English the writings of Ivo
Andric, the winner of 1961 Nobel Prize for Literature.

Julije Klovic or Giulio Clovio (1498-1578) as a painter, Klovic was
the greatest European miniaturist of his time. He painted for the
Roman Pope and for the Medici family in Florence. His portrait by El
Greco was exhibited in 2003 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art at 84 St
& Fifth Avenue. Klovic art can be seen at the Towneley Public Library
and Pierpont Morgan Library in New York, which is in possession of
"Officium Virginis." Consisting of 228 pages, it's his most famous and
the best masterpiece, containing 30 valuable miniatures by his hand.
His grave is situated near Michelangelo's Moses in the church of Saint
Pietro in Vincoli, Rome, and bears an inscription "Pictor de
Croatia".

George Martin Skurla, (1921-2001) an engineer who graduated from
University of Michigan, CEO of Grumman Aerospace on Long Island,
directed assembly and pre-launch operations for NASA's lunar modules,
the first manned vehicles to reach the moon. His parents were
Croatian. He was described as capable, charismatic and hard working.
"He was demanding, yet caring," says his son. "He was tough, but fair,
strict, but forgiving."

Sanja Ivekovic (1949), born in Zagreb. Artist, painter exhibited
internationally. Her art appears in the Museum of Modern Art at 53 St.
off Fifth Avenue. Sanja also worked on her art project titled
"Searching For My Mother's Number", a unique story of her mother, an
Auschwitz survivor, where she spend the period from 1942-1945 with
number 81969. "Letters to Auschwitz", "Archive Findings" http://
www.cromagazine.com/lexicon.htm

Raymond Harding was born Branko?, in Zagreb. He was the former head of
the Liberal Party in New York City.

Louis Zorich (1924), born in Chicago to Dalmatian parents. He is a
character actor, who appeared in the "Fiddler on the Roof" in 1971 and
many other films. With his wife, actress Olympia Dukakis, Zorich co-
founded the "Whole Theater" in Montclair, New Jersey in 1972,
maintaining it for 18 years before they close it and moved to
California.

>From the island of Manhattan, you can take a free ferry at the Staten
Island Ferry at South Ferry Terminal. Commuters and tourists share
some of the best views of the Southern tip of Manhattan while viewing
the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and Verrazano Bridge. Some people
speculate whether Verrazano is Vranjican and along with Marco Polo of
Croatian origin? Marco Polo (1254-1324) according to rumors was born
on Korcula Island and moved on to become Venetian adventurer and
explorer, meritorious for his explorations of China.

Every year Croatian runners participate in the New York City Marathon,
a 27-mile run, making their way from the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge to
Tavern on the Green in Central Park. The most famous park in New York
City provides 843 acres of greensward in the center of Manhattan. In
2003 there were 34,729 runners, 12,000 volunteers and thousands of
city employees assisting. Runners were cheered on by more than 2
million spectators lining the streets of New York City's five
boroughs: Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan.
The event is televised globally, all celebrating friendship, sport,
and human potential. www.ingnycmarathon.org

Ellis Island Immigration Museum holds the Croatian folk and peasant
outfits as well as computerized history of some Croatian families
arriving in New York. http://www.ellisisland.org

Mate Angelich (1902-1999), born in Medici near Sinj, Croatia. Mate
came to the US in the 1920's. He along with other Croatians was part
of construction crew building the George Washington Bridge. Mate
strung the suspension cables 600 feet above the Hudson River. At age
97, he was probably the last surviving member of the bridge's
construction crew. He learned auto mechanics and become the owner of
auto dealership and service stations. At age 65 Mate started new
business, a nursery where he raised thousands of beautiful azaleas,
and made his own wine. He also took a strong interest in cow breeding
at the family farm in New Hampshire. He was an active member of the
Croatian New York Club and assisted with the annual beach picnic. He
was married for 60 years to Keti.

Anthony Jovic, (1962-9/11/2001) died at the World Trade Center,
firefighter of Engine Co. 279 for 12 years in Red Hook, Brooklyn. A
son of Croatian longshoreman who grew up in Hell's Kitchen. Jovic met
his wife Cynthia when he was working at a butcher shop on Ninth Avenue
and she, also a Croatian immigrant and longshoremen daughter, was
working at a deli nearby. Anthony's burned and mangled shield turned
up in the south tower, but no remains have been identified.
www.commemoratewtc.com/history/facts/battery.php

Dr. Maria Kolak (1932) born in Brooklyn to Croatian parents. She is a
Pediatrician in private practice in Forest Hills. She received her
education in Zagreb and New York. Dr. Kolak is an employee for the
City of New York, Health Department. Dr. Kolak was among the first
doctors on the scene at the World Trade Center after 9/11/2001. She
alerted the rescuers to wear the masks, gloves and overall protection
during their rescue mission.

Igor Kordey, comic book artist. He is a Croatian who immigrated to
Canada. He witnessed the war and terrorism in former Yugoslavia during
the 1990's. He draws Cable, a Marvel comic about a hero who fights
terrorists in Peru and intervenes in wars in former Y. After Sept. 11,
2001 Kordey persuaded the Marvel editors not to delete a Cable scene
in which terrorists drive a truck bomb into a building in Lima. "You
are not supposed to pretend they don't exist," said Kordey.

Slavenka Drakulic (1949), an award-winning writer born in Croatia. "S.
-A Novel About the Balkans", "Café Europa-Life after Communism", "How
We Survived Communism and Even Laughed", "Balkan Express: Fragments
>From the Other Side of War", "Deadly Sins of Feminism", fiction
"Holograms of Fear", "Marble Skin", "The Taste of a Man." Her books
have been published in 13 countries and translated into twelve
languages. Visited New York many times to receive a Fulbright
Fellowship for writers, attend conferences, give presentations, sign
up with the New York publisher and do book signing. http://
www.crowmagazine.com/lexicon.htm "Slavenka is a journalist and writer
whose voice belongs to the world." -Gloria Steinem. "Slavenka is a
writer of great sensitivity, intelligence, and grace." -Alice Walker,
Pulitzer Prize winner.

Dr. Ivo Banac (1947) born in Dubrovnik. Immigrated to USA in 1957 with
his mother where they joined Banac's father, a ship captain, who had
emigrated from Yugoslavia 11 years earlier. An excellent student,
Banac completed graduate studies at Stanford University in 1971. Four
years later, he successfully defended a doctoral thesis entitled
"National problem at the time of the formation of Yugoslavia". Since
1977 he has been teaching history at Yale University in New Heaven,
Connecticut. Banac has been tenured professor since 1988, and from
1988-1995 he was the dean of the Pearson College at Yale. Banac has
written several well-received books. In 2003, Banac was appointed
Minister of the Environment in Croatia.

The earliest known sporting event in Croatia is from the 18th century
(1764). Since then Croatians have excelled in sports.

Many Croatian tennis players have participated at the US Open tennis
tournaments in New York. First was Nikola Pilic (1939) born in Split -
1970 US Open Men's Doubles Champion. After spending years working in
Germany, Pilic now serves as the Captain of the Croatian Davis Cup.
Pilic's success was followed by Iva Majoli (1977) born in Zagreb, 1997
French Open Champion http://espn.go.com/tennis/majoli/html , Goran
Ivanisevic (1971), born in Split, was the 2001 Wimbledon Champion
www.goranivanisevic.com , Silvija Talaja, Goran Prpic, Jelena
Kostanic, Mario Ancic, Sanja Ancic, Ivan Ljubicic, Mirjana Lucic-1998
Australian Doubles Tournament Champion, Ivo Karlovic, Nada Pavic, Roko
Karanusic and others who played successfully at the US Open tennis
tournaments for many years. Zeljko Franulovic (1947) born in Split,
was famous player in '70s and later became the vice-president of the
ATP and tournament director in Europe.

Madison Square Garden hosted Croatians including basketball players
such as Toni Kukoc (1968), from Split, Europe's biggest name in the
NBA, selected by the Chicago Bulls in 1990, member of silver-medal
winning Croatia Olympic Team in 1992. Dino Radja played forward,
height 6'11", NBA from '94-97 for Boston Celtics, a member of the
Croatian Olympic team. Kresimir Cosic (1948-1995), was a professional
basketball player. He was the first foreign player to earn All-
American honors by United Press International in 1972 and 1973. He
played for Brigham Young University from '71-73. Cosic took part in
four Olympic Games in 1968, 1972, 1976 and 1980. Sandra Bezic, her
family is originally from Solta near Split. They immigrated to Canada.
Bezic is a world-renowned choreographer, commentator, ice skating
coach, competitor, TV announcer and author of the book "The Passion to
Skate: An Intimate View of Figure Skating".

Drazen Petrovic (1964-1993), born in Sibenik and grew up in Split.
"Petro" played with Nets until his tragic death in a car accident.
Petrovic was enshrined in the Hall of Fame on Sept. 27, 2002. In his
honor, every year a Croatian student receives a scholarship paid by
Nets. www.hoophall.com A memorial for Petrovic drew hundreds,
including Mike Celizic who writes regularly for NBCSports.com and is a
freelance writer based in New York. He wrote the "Courage: True
Stories of American Sports Heroes", "The Biggest Game of Them All:
Notre Dame, Michigan State, and the Fall of '66", "Moments of
Truth."

Among the most popular sports is soccer. The first international
soccer match was held in 1907. The soccer club Hajduk from Split who
has visited New York and played in a friendly game against local
amateur group "Croatia New York". Outside of Croatia, in Europe,
Americas and Australia, there are over 100 soccer clubs bearing the
name Croatia.

Mario Preskar, (1984) boxer from Zagreb. 19 years old was 7-time
Croatian amateur boxing Champion and second in Europe as an amateur
Heavyweight at the age of 17. His fight in Atlantic City during 2003
was cancelled.

Irena Peharda, West Point Cadet graduate who also completed the
Airborne School in Fort Benning, Georgia. As a paratrooper she
received a pin, which is a parachute with wings. Twenty-year old Irena
decided on her own to go through arduous airborne training, the same
that the elite U.S. commandos known as the Green Berets also receive.

Dario Solman (1973), an artist. He was the first Croatian participant
of the P.S.1.'s International Studio Program in Queens. Prior to his
residency at P.S.1, Solman has completed graduate studies in arts at
the Ohio State University. He has exhibited widely and has taught at
the Arts Academy in Split. Solman received support from Mercy Bona
Pavelic and many others. His web site http://
dariosolman.tripod.com/

Among most successful business people during the present time is chef
Lidia Matticchio Bastianich. Lidia was born in 1947 in the village
near Pula, Istria. She learned how to cook from her mother and
grandmother and took her Istrian skills all the way to America. Lidia
is now restaurant owner of Felidia on East 58 Street, cookbook author
of four books and fantastically popular 52 part public television
series PBS-TV chef. She prefers to market her business as Italian and
considers her family ethnic Italian, but also speaks fluent Croatian.
Lidia is a long time member of the "Istrian Club," a not-for-profit
group in New York who assist Istrians in Croatia. From her childhood
in Istria, Lidia recalls trips to the market, harvesting olives for
olive oil, collecting mussels and clams at the seashore and sleeping
under the stars on a mattress filled with dry cornhusks on summer
nights. Lidia remembers going with her grandmother to the communal
mill to grind the wheat into flour for pasta and bread. This "from the
earth" understanding and respect for food has given her a definite
style as a cook.

Nada Brnic, owner of the restaurant Terrace in the Sky at 400 West 119
St. Born on Rab, Nada along with her husband Nereo Valencic bought and
renovated several hotels on the island Rab. www.terraceinthesky.com

Ivanac family from Brela, are owners of Villa Berulia, 107 East 34 St,
and Trio Restaurants, 167 E 33 St. Ivanac family, who have owned and
operated Villa Berulia since 1981, import home-grown products, culled
from their private estate on the Dalmatian coast, including grappas,
extra virgin oil, cured meats and cheeses. They also serve Croatian
wine such as Dingac from Peljesac, Frankovka Grasevina Riesling and
Vrbnicka Zlahtina from Slavonia, Katunar Zlahtina from Krk.
www.triorestaurant

Among Croatians writers, writing mostly in English is award-winning
author Josip Novakovich. As in his previous books, Novakovich
continues to write universal stories about growing up in Croatia.
"When I am in Croatia, I feel American. Of course, in America I feel
Croatian. I am hyphenated between two cultures, and I will never
integrate the two, but will suffer always from multicultural
schizophrenia, or rather, bicultural psychosis." After his first visit
to America, he writes, "You can leave another country to go to the
States, but once you get into the States, the States get into you, and
there's hardly any way of leaving. Even if you do, you carry America
with you!" His publications include three collections of stories,
"Apricots from Chernobyl" (1955), "Yolk" (1995), and "Salvation and
Other Disasters" (1998). He has also written two books on the art of
writing and co-edited "Stories in the Stepmother Tongue" (2000), a
book of stories written in English by immigrant writers in the United
States.

Tomislav Novakovic, a filmmaker and screenwriter, a graduate from
Columbia University, who produced "Are They Still Shooting" in New
York using many Croatians as main actors.

Igor Sunara, (1945) born in Varazdin. He is a filmmaker, visual arts
designer and photographer. Produced music videos and completed
television and documentary work. He teaches cinematography. In 1996
organized a movie festival of ten well-known classic features from
Croatia and fifteen famous cartoons from the Zagreb School of
Animation.

Arsen Ostojic, film director and producer of short film "The Bird
Lover" and "The Model" shot in New York. Has production company Cronus
Films, Inc.

Boris Mardesic (193?), a painter born on Vis. He had numerous solo
exhibits in Europe and in NYC with a long time studio in Astoria.
Returned to Croatia since and lives in Pula.

Ivo Skoric (1964), born in Bonn, Germany. A freelance journalist, he
wrote his own unpublished story. Skoric produced numerous articles and
interviews including one with Krist Novoselic, a musician. As a
student activist, Ivo worked on Radio 101 in Zagreb as a commentator.
Moved to US in 1990 where he worked on Hrvatski Monitor radio program
and supported himself as a lifeguard, licensed personal trainer,
snowboard instructor and Webmaster. Along with his wife Indira
Kajosevic, Ivo is a co-director of Raccoon Inc. www.balkansnet.org a
not-for-profit organization assisting people from former Yugoslavia.
Raccoon's financial donor is The New York Foundation, among others.

Denis Licul (1959), born in Labin, Istria. She was educated in Zagreb
and Rijeka. Artist specializing in ceramics, exhibited in Italy,
Egypt, US and Croatia. Licul works in Croatian Consulate in New York.
www.arsa.hr/denisliculzustovic.htm

Karlo Mirth (1917), born in Otocac, Lika. A librarian and publisher,
he received a Master's degree in engineering in 1942 in Zagreb. In May
1945 he managed to reach Italy with thousands of other refugees. He
studied journalism in Rome until 1947 where he started to publish
Croatia Press. He moved to Madrid, Spain until 1951. In 1962 he
obtained his M.S. in Library Science at Columbia University. Mirth is
active in Croatian Academy of America, Inc. Its Journal published
since 1960 is a scholarly publication dedicated to the Croatian
history & culture www.croatianacademy.org

Karina Longin (1982), a professional model from Zadar. She carried her
first collection at 13. Karina's second home is in New York City.

Nenad Bach, a recording artist, composer and performer. Born in
Zagreb, Nenad arrived in US in 1984. http://www.nenadbach.com An
activist in Croatian community, founder of e-zine www.croatia.org or
www.CroatianWorld.net

The Croatian community of New York has hosted many Croatian artists
such as Tereza Kesovija http://tereza-kesovija.com Mate Miso Kovac,
Doris Dragovic, Thompson Marko Perkovic, Vera Svoboda, Kico Krunoslav
Slabinac, Ivanka Luetic, Oliver Dragojevic, Josipa Lisac, Vice Vukov,
Arsen Dedic, Marko Novosel, Matko Jelavic, Vinko Coce, Zdravko
Skender, Zlatko Pejakovic, Duka Caic, Tomislav Ivcic, Dani Marsan,
Drazen Zanko, Zlatni Dukati, Milo Hrnic, "Dubrovacki Trubadori" the
group "Prljavo Kazaliste," "Magazin", Zeljko Bebek (the ex-frontman of
Bijelo Dugme), group "Zabranjeno Pusenje"; Folklore group "Lado",
girls choir "Zvjezdice" and many others.

The chief at the Croatian National Tourist Office is Nena Komarica.
The office is located in the Empire State Building at 350 Fifth Avenue
located on 40th floor overlooking the magnificent Manhattan skyline
www.htz.hr

Croatians in New York continue to thrive in every field imaginable.
Several are owners of restaurants, most of them marketing as Italian.
A section of Queens, called Astoria is still the place where Croatians
are able to find affordable housing and good homemade cooking in clubs
such as Rudar Soccer Club and Istrian Sports Club. There are several
café's, bars, travel agencies, construction companies, butcher shop
selling Croatian products and a church Most Precious Blood serving
approximately 1,000 Croats and teaching Croatian language to the new
generation. Media is covered by e-magazine www.croatia.org , three
weekly radio stations, and a newspaper The Croatian American
croatian...@aol.com in English & Croatian "novine za Americke
Hrvate" run by Vjekoslav Krsnik from Split. There are church
newsletters including "Korijen", brand new Croatian Chronicle and
"Sutra Croatian Magazine" by Josip Remenar. The Croatian-American
Chamber of Commerce can be reached at tel. (718) 937-4040; there are
have numerous not-for-profit groups operating, as well as a cultural
group Croatian Association Napredak (718) 353-0069 and "Klapa
Astorija," a Capella singing group performing since 1993 consisting of
11 members. Thanks to the efforts of Sanja Crnkovic, the Public
Library has Croatian Pages at www.queenslibrary.org , go to
"WorldLinQ" and than click "Croatian".

On the other side of Manhattan, across the Hudson River, Croatians are
scattered all over New Jersey. In Fairview, Father Giordano Belanich
serves Croatians as part of the St. John the Baptist's Church. With
tremendous storage space available, Father Belanich has for many years
collected and shipped items to Croatia to assist most needy.
www.croatianrelief.org

Croatian Land at Boonton, New Jersey belongs to the Sts. Cyril &
Methodius from Manhattan. More then 100 acres of land is available to
the parishioners to celebrate summer mass in the open, play soccer and
enjoy picnics. Barbecue of lamb and popular music with dances draws
large crowds.

Lucic Communications www.croatianmall.com www.visit-croatia.co.uk/
Download basic Croatian Language for travelers FREE www.visit-
croatia.co.uk/croatianfortravellers/ or see Croatian Cuisine and
download Croatian recipes www.visit-croatia.co.uk/cuisine/ Property
in Croatia www.visit-croatia.co.uk/property/

Info about Croatia: www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/hr.html
or www.croatia.hr Photos of Croatia www.photocroatia.com

Thanks to authors Adam Eterovich, George Prpic "Croatia and the
Croatians," Professor Edward Ifkovic, for his contribution in
researching the history of Croatians in America. Also to Darko
Zubrinic www.hr/darko/etf/ , Dr. Branko Franolic, Anthony W.
Rasporich, www.croatianmall.com , Matica Iseljenika www.matis.hr ,
Marija Barbieri, and many others.

Submitted by: Katarina Tepesh tep...@aol.com

Updated 1/26/2004