She lived 91 full years and her story is important. I believe everyone's story is important because we all touch the lives of the people around us. The actions our mother took in her lifetime touched so many people and she really did make a difference in the world. My hope is by sharing her story she can become an inspiration to others. I believe it would be selfish to keep her, her story, all to myself so I share these words of remembrance with you all in the hopes she may inspire you, us all, to be the best people we can be and to realize we have the Freedom to make a difference.
In many ways I relate to these words spoken by Abraham Lincoln, "All that I am or hope to be I owe to my mother."
The Story of Roza Nowotarska/Rose Kobylinski
Our
mother, Rose, was an extraordinary woman. Known to many as Roza
Nowotarska, or Mama Rose, or to her family as Zaiska - Her brave spirit,
determination and constant quest for truth and justice were an inspiration to
many and especially to us.
On December 13, 1981 many
people in Poland heard about the declaration of Martial Law from a Polish
American woman sitting at her desk in the offices of Voice of America -
broadcasting the news, the truth, to the people living in a country in crisis.
It has been said that while Lech Walesa was in prison he wrote on the wall of
his prison cell, “God Bless Roza Nowotarska.”
Born December 18, 1920 in
Krakow, Poland the third of four children Mom always knew she wanted to be a
journalist and she loved the theater. She acted in her first play at the age of
six and wrote her first book at the age of 16. During World War II she was part
of the Underground Drama School in Krakow, whose membership also included a
young Karol Wojtyla, who later became Pope John Paul II.
During the War Mom helped
Poles of the Jewish faith escape the Germans and fearing persecution herself at
the end of the war she fled Poland to Austria and then to Regensburg, Germany.
In September 1949 Mom, along with our father and a young Rosie, came to the
United States where mom began a new life of writing, radio journalism, theater,
and art. First settling in Detroit, Michigan she was active in the Polish
Community - starting a Polish Radio Station, writing for many Polish newspapers
and spreading Polish Culture.
Mom came to Washington in
1964 to begin a career with Voice of America (VOA). During her 23 year
tenure she served as translator, broadcaster, and producer for the Polish
Desk. She was known for her strength in reporting, her beliefs in
freedom, and for introducing country music to the people of Poland. She fought
hard for women’s rights including equal pay, hours and ranking within the
United States Government Agencies. She took the US Government to court
where she won a landmark employment discrimination case that laid the
groundwork for a two decade battle against the US Government which resulted in
a win of the largest employment discrimination award in the history of the
Civil Rights Act; She paved the
way for many women today and they benefit from the fights our mom fought and
the battles she won.
During her lifetime mom
authored many books in Polish and wrote numerous articles for Polish and émigré
newspapers, journals and magazines. After her retirement in 1987 she continued
to write and began painting in the traditional Polish style of Painting on
Glass. She interviewed actors, Country Music stars, and met with sitting US
Presidents. At a White House Press briefing with President Clinton, prior
to his first visit to Poland, mom corrected President Clinton on the location
of Poland stating that the country was in Central Europe and not in Eastern
Europe. During his next term at another briefing when the President again began
to say Eastern Europe, mom raised her hand and he looked at her and said, “Yes,
Rose, I remember, Poland is in Central Europe”
If
you Google Roza Nowotarska these are the descriptions that come up – Polish
American, journalist, author, translator, reporter, poet, painter and
exile activist. To think of mom as a rebel, an extreme patriot and a dangerous
activist seems crazy but it in many ways it was true. She was all those things
and then some. She took on the Soviet Government in Poland and the
US Government in Washington in her fights for what she believed was right and
just.
Our
mother taught us many lessons. She taught us to be
compassionate. Our house was always filled with people who could not
be with their families especially over the holidays. She taught us
to be generous – She was always sending packages to our family and friends in
Poland. She taught us to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves
and, more importantly, to stand up for ourselves. Most of all, our
mother taught us to love unconditionally. She loved each of us, my
sisters and I, completely and unconditionally. We always knew she was there for
us, that she would fight for us.
Today
we celebrate mom’s life. She loved her family and gave us girls everything she
could. She was a voracious reader, she was always current on the news reading
the papers before dawn and watching CNN at Sunset. She loved listening to
music, and hearing the laughter of her children and especially her
grandchildren. Mom’s happiest moments were when we were all together
and she could just should sit and watch us interact.
At
the end of her life our mother taught us how to live with grace. She thanked
you for everything you did for her. She would always tell you she felt
“excellent” and when we asked how she was doing she would always say, “Better
now that I see you.”
So
mom thanks for everything. You raised us up when we were down. You listened
when we were worried. You eased our burdens and gave us strength. You were
always there for us. We love you.
Magda
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