MOM (1992)

This shot of my mom is possibly the last time she was caught on camera before she got sick. Taken in front of the Keystone house, with Dad and my Aunt Marijka. The photograph wasn't processed until July, which also makes me think it might be the last one.

BOB & MARIJKA (1966)

A somewhat faded picture of my aunt and uncle, probably in Baltimore, 1966.

GODPARENTS

Here we have a 1968 photo of my Uncle Bob and Aunt Marijka (also my godmother), at the rear of the table, and my Babcia, Joanna Gissowska Chmilewskyj, in the left front corner, probably taken in the home near Patterson Park in Baltimore. The gentleman in the dark suit is my godfather Dr. Andrew Lemishka, and the woman is his wife Lidia. My grandfather persuaded Lemishka to come to Baltimore and open a medical practice.

COMING TO AMERICA

In 1949 the Chmilewskyj family made the ocean voyage from Europe to America. Here are a few shots from that trip.

Lydia Oxana Chmilewska (Tidd) laughing aboard the ship, dressed in her Girl Scouts uniform.

Mom (on far left) with a group of women (most likely fellow displaced persons), with what she later told me was the cook aboard the ship. He was the first black man she had ever met, and she said he was the nicest person. Have no idea, sadly, the others' identities.

A group of future Americans making the voyage to their new home. Most of the individuals I can't identify, but I am going to guess at a few. My mom is second from the right. Standing just in front of her to her right is my Babcia,Joanna Gissowska Chmilewskyj. The little girl with bow in her hair, in front, I think is my Aunt Marijka. The man standing next to the tall priest is my grandfather (I think) Jaroslav Chmilewskyj. My Aunt might be able to fill in the blanks or correct me.

This shot was likely taken earlier, before they left Europe, possibly in Germany. My mom is standing to the right, stylishly dressed in polka-dot dress and heavy jacket.

CHMILEWSKYJ 1963

Herewith a September 1963 shot of my grandparents and my aunt, most likely somewhere in Maryland.

MARIJKA AND BABY ME

This shot is a little dark, but I wanted to try it. It is of my godmother, and aunt, Marijka and me, October of 1960.

MARIJKA & BOB IN KEY WEST

Not long after they were married, it appears my Aunt Marijka and Uncle Bob made a trip (honeymoon?) down to Key West, Florida. One of the pictures indicates they were visiting the Bachelor's Officer Quarters there, so they may have been checking in on my dad. Our family made a trip down to Key West, but in my mind it was a bit later.

CHMILEWSKYJ-ULANOWICZ WEDDING

Herewith a couple of shots I found of the 1967 marriage of my Aunt Marijka and Robert Ulanowicz at St. Michael's Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Baltimore. There may be more around here, and I will add them if I find them.