Vicky Leshinskie Dually
Celebrated By PHAM
- PostEagle
- November 1, 2016
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BALTIMORE, Md. – The Polish Heritage Association of Maryland (PHAM) honored its president Victoria “Vicky” Leshinskie with a gala surprise party here on September 18, 2016 after a regular membership meeting. Firstly, Vicky is retiring as its president after 14 years at the helm. Secondly, Vicky celebrated her 90th birthday on this past July 4, 2016 – Independence Day.
In photo: Director Richard Poremski with President Victoria Leshinskie
Vicky was born and raised in Shamokin, at the western edge of the coal fields in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. She migrated to Baltimore, Maryland in 1944 after graduating from high school, and began an enduring and very successful career in the hospital administration field. She formally retired 19 years ago from the University Hospital Medical Center, but selflessly volunteered to work with medical students in its anesthesiology department until just recently.
Under Vicky’s strong leadership and dogged perseverance, the PHAM has continued its mission to celebrate, promote and preserve Polish culture, history and heritage through various programs and events. She was especially dedicated to the PHAM’s scholarship program that has provided college students of Polish heritage in Maryland with $350,000 (and counting) over the years. In addition to the many official proclamations of merit and glowing accolades, her most prized gift at the celebration was the PHAM membership presentation of a $2,000 scholarship to be granted in the name of “Victoria Leshinskie” during the 2017 scholarship awards program.
The PHAM was implored and charged by Vicky to revitalize and grow the organization in all respects, and not to let it wither away on the vine. The use of all new communications technology was emphasized in order to recruit new members, especially young ones, to introduce and immerse them in our rich Polish culture, and to proudly carry its legacy on into our Polonia future.
We all wish Victoria a sincere “Sto Lat” – and much, much more – as she prepares to go fully into a well-deserved peaceful and quiet retirement at her family homestead in Shamokin.
Richard P. Poremski
Polish American Journal
Washington, DC Bureau
October 7, 2016
(Text: Richard Poremski and Photo: Maks Bondyra)