Barbara and Marian Strutynski have just retired from an active involvement at the Polish Home after being pillars of the Polish community for over five decades. Barbara started the children folk dance group Young Polanie / Młodzi Polanie in the 1960s and that in due course spawned a children theater group called Teatrzyk Biedronka (Ladybug Theatre). The dance group has been active until the pandemic put it on hold, while the last children theatre performance of Hans and Graetel / Jaś i Małgosia was a decade ago. She also organized several cabaret performances at the Polish Cultural Center. Marian provided technical assistance to all performances at the Polish Home, including for visiting cabaret groups and theaters. He was also the Polish Home Association President several times, PHA Trustee and the Treasurer at the Seattle Polish Foundation.

To honor both of them, last Saturday the PHA organized a recognition dinner for the Strutynskis that also included the unveiling of a plaque dedicating the lower stage at the Polish Cultural Center to Barbara and Marian Strutynski. Consul General of Poland in Los Angeles Jarosław Łasiński sent a letter of recognition read by Honorary Consul Teresa Indelak Davis. Read the letter in Polish list Konsula Generalnego, or its English translation Consul General’s Letter.

Strutynski family at the ceremony: sitting Marian & Barbara, standing: Matt, Mike, Cari Sanford, Theresa & Adam

The program also included an opening of the Something Old, Something Borrowed exhibition at the upper hall showing decades-worth of theatre props used in the theatre and cabaret productions. The exhibition is also dedicated to Barbara and Marian. If you were involved in one of the groups back in the day, or watched these performances, you are especially invited to come and share your memories.

The exhibition and the recognition dinner has been organized by Paulina Phung who takes over the Young Polanie group and who also has just launched a new theatre initiative (see a separate news item here).  The exhibit is open for visitors every Friday between 6 and 10 pm at the Polish Cultural Center upstairs.

More: please contact Paulina for more info