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Henry Dominic Podeszfinski 1921

Henry Dominic Podesfinski was born on August 4, 1921 at Newark NJ in Newark, New Jersey United States to Roman Podeszfinski and Lottie (Mieleski) Podeszfinski. Henry was baptized in 1921 at St. Stanislaus Church, Newark NJ.. Henry Henry Dominic Podeszfinski Mr. married Tessie C. (Rawa) Podeszfinski in Jun and they later divorced in 1970.

Henry Dominic Podesfinski

Hank, Henry Podesfinski

Deceased

August 4, 1921

Newark NJ in Newark, New Jersey, United States

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Henry Dominic Podeszfinski Henry Podesfinski (born 1921)

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Henry Dominic Podesfinski's History: 1921

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Introduction

Henry Dominic Podeszfinski aka Henry Dominic Podesfinski was married two times. Tessie C. (Rawa) Podeszfinski was his first wife about 1945 and they divorced in Essex County about 1970. They lived with father and mother Roman and Lottie Podeszfinski when first married, and both couples moved to a two-story duplex house bought by Roman in Irvington NJ. Robert and Raymond were Roman's first grandchildren and they graduated Sacred Heart of Jesus Polish catholic parochial school in town. Henry enrolled them later at Seton Hall Prep, South Orange NJ, and both graduated different colleges. Henry and Tessie lived in a first-floor apartments in a 2-story duplex, and his parents were in a second-floor apartment. They visited often, and the grandparents babysat when needed. Henry, a wholesale seller of shoes and beer, americanized his name unofficially to Podesfinski so non-Poles could pronounce it. His sons received Podesfinski on their birth certificates. The 1930 and 1940 Censuses incorrectly spelled Podeszfinski as "Podeszbinski" due to a misreading of handwriting. Henry saw the "sz" as the problem and reduced it to "s".
08/4

1921

Birthday

August 4, 1921

Birthdate

Newark NJ in Newark, New Jersey United States

Birthplace

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Nationality & Locations

Henry was born Aug. 4, 1921 in Newark NJ to Roman and Lottie (nee Mileski) Podeszfinski who immigrated from the Polish area of Russia in the early 1900s. Roman who grew up on a farm enlisted into the U. S. Calvary. After Mexican bandit Pancho Villa attacked border towns in Arizona and New Mexico leaving 120 dead, President Woodrow Wilson ordered the future General John Pershing to lead an expedition of soldiers on horseback to capture Villa. Roman was part of that Mexican expedition from 1916 to 1917 that forced Villa to go into hiding. He had a photo of himself in calvary uniform with his horse and a signed letter from Wilson for his service in Mexico. Roman married Lottie and became a bus driver for Public Service in Newark NJ where they owned a single family house on Prince Street Henry graduated from Newark public schools including high school.. The family went to St. Stanislaw Roman Catholic Church, Newark. So did Tessie Rawa, one of four sisters and a brother, whom he married during World War 2 Henry was a wholesale salesman for Cats Paws shoes and later Piels beer. In the 1950s, he operated Maplecrest Awnings and Blinds in Maplewood NJ.
Early Life & Education

Henry graduated Central High School in Newark NJ. He wanted to go to college, but his father who only had a grammar school education, saw no benefit and insisted he started work. Because Henry was unable physically to serve in the military due to flat feet, he didn't get veterans benefits to go to college after the war. Henry told his sons that they needed college.
1921

Baptism

1921
Baptism date
St. Stanislaus Church, Newark NJ.
Place of worship
Religious Beliefs

Henry, though a Roman Catholic, attended public schools where he met students of all faiths. He attended church, received communion and confession, and was devout in his faith in God. He had a more inclusive attitude of heaven that Catholics would not adopt until Vatican 2 in the 1960s.
Military Service

Henry was not a veteran. Due to flat feet which made long walks painful, he was ranked 4F by Selective Service.
Professional Career

Wholesale goods salesman of shoes and beer and owner and proprietor of Maplecrest Awnings, Shades and Blinds in Maplewood NJ. Owned other businesses later in life.
Personal Life & Family

Henry and Tessie volunteered to work at the Grove Street Firehouse polling booths every election for 12 years in Irvington NJ. In Maplewood, he took part in the Maplecrest Business Association which decided when and how to set up holiday decorations. Hemry was an avid fan of the New York Yankee baseball team. He took his sons to baseball games at Yankee Stadium and the Giants Stadium when Willie Mays played and Dodgers' Ebbetts Field.
Life

Status

Living status

Unknown

Living status

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Memories

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Robert Podesfinski

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10/11/2021

My dad taught me to fight bullies

Henry taught me how to box when I was only 7 or 8. We had "boxing sessions" where he pushed furniture to the walls and showed me how a boxer stands as a right hander and how to hold my hands. With both of our hands open handed and not in a fist, we spared in the living room. He showed me how to block a blow by slightly tapping one of my cheeks if I wasn't paying attention. My mother was aghast, but he told her a boy has to know how to take on a Bully. "You only use this on bullies if you ever happen to come across one, " dad told me. "Will you promise me that? " I promised.
Because of that I always walked tall and feared no boy my age.

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