Pawlickis celebrate 75 years

9/27/2001

A 75th-anniversary celebration in honor of Florence and David Pawlicki took place Saturday at Inverness Club. That's right, 75 years of marriage. And like the Energizer Bunny, the love birds keep going and going.

They met as across-the-street neighbors on their family farms, located at King Road and Hill Avenue.

They were young and in love - she was 16 and he was 19 - when they married in 1926.

That same year, Mr. Pawlicki broke the family tradition of farm- ing for a living and went to work at the University of Toledo, then at the Scott Park campus.

He became a familiar face there for 46 years, running the boiler room, maintaining buildings, and more.

Three years after they were married, the Depression hit. Mrs. Pawlicki took care of the home, doing laundry by hand. She also dressed up in her Sunday-best hat and gloves to make trips to downtown Toledo, going to each utility company and store to pay the bills in cash.

For a night out, the two went to silent movies via the trolley, before they bought their Model T automobile.

Their only child, Clarence, recalls that when he was 12, he and his father learned to play golf together, which led the young Mr. Pawlicki to become a caddie at Inverness Club and Mrs. Pawlicki to become a “golf widow.”

During World War II, Clarence went to war and returned safely.

Clarence, the host of the celebration, said his parents are “my role models and heroes.”

The senior Pawlickis live in their own home, cook, drive, and do most household chores - not bad for a couple of nonagenarians.

On another nostalgic note, a Lion Store reunion was Sept. 14 at Gladieux Meadows.

Employees, including one who worked at the store from 1923-1934, came from all over the country to reminisce. Many recalled the downtown store in its glory at holiday time, and the days when female sales staff members all wore black dresses and pearl necklaces, and customers dressed up to go shopping.

But old times were not the only focus. The crowd of 400 joined hands in a circle and sang “God Bless the U.S.A.” and donated $500 to Red Cross relief efforts.

Kathy Schmalzried and Karen Weaks were assisted by a dozen committee members who are looking forward to planning another reunion.

Speaking of reunions, the Toledo Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., is getting ready for its 50th anniversary celebration in May, 2002.

In the meantime, members have plenty to boast about: The chapter's president, Marie Bush, has been unanimously voted secretary-treasurer of the Midwestern Region. It is the first time a Toledo chapter member has been elected to a regional office. She resigned from her local chapter office in June and has been replaced by Anya Seymour.

Her new position makes her a member of the organization's national advisory council, financial team, and board. The national organization was founded in 1938 in Philadelphia for the educational, cultural, and social enrichment of African-American children.

Barbara Hendel is The Blade's society editor. E-mail her at bhendel@theblade.com.