Mahoning Valley Poles express shock, sadness at death of president

By SEAN BARRON

news@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Even though Frank J. Ruminski has lived most of his life in the Mahoning Valley, he enjoys close ties to the country of Poland.

So it hit hard when he learned that a plane carrying President Lech Kaczynski, 60; his wife, Maria, and 95 others crashed Saturday in dense fog at an airport near Smolensk, Russia, killing all onboard.

“When they bleed, we bleed,” Ruminski said, referring to the reaction of Poles locally and worldwide to the tragedy.

Ruminski, of New Middletown, shared his feelings about the crash after a morning Mass today at St. Stanislaus Church, 430 Williamson Ave., on the city’s South Side.

Among those on the plane were numerous Polish political and religious figures, top military officers, members of the president’s security detail and the head of the National Bank of Poland. They were to attend a memorial service in Russia marking the 70th anniversary of the massacre of Polish prisoners of war in the village of Katyn.

Despite the tragedy, it is hoped the country will remain a strong strategic ally to the United States, said Ruminski, whose wife, Christine, lived in Poland about 23 years.

Meanwhile, Polish people - especially the loved ones of those killed - need prayer, he added.

His relatives in Poland include several in-laws, nieces, nephews and cousins, Ruminski added.

“It’s shock, disbelief and sorrow all at the same time, and now they’re in mourning,” said Marianne Klimko, a lifelong member of St. Stanislaus who has cousins and other relatives in Poland.

“Everyone we’ve spoken with [mainly parishioners] is in a state of shock.”

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.