O U R H I S T O R Y O F C U LT U R A L D I V E R S I T Y
Madam Pessl were presented with a hand-carved plaque which was proudly displayed over the music building, naming it the Pessl/Wunderer House of Music. Madam was also instrumental in helping Yanko Cajnar, a talented carpenter and builder from Yugoslavia, join the Sanford staff. He worked with other faculty and students to help build the original Geipel Gym, now the Geipel Center for Performing Arts, and Albright Hall, which is the cornerstone for today’s Lower School.
A continued commitment Sanford has been a long-time partner with the American Field Service (AFS) program, currently coordinated by World Language Co-chair and Upper School Spanish Instructor Elizabeth Capone. This intercultural organization allows a
3
foreign student to spend a year immersing himself in both American and Sanford School daily life. “I am proud that Sanford provides the financial support that is required to fund an AFS student,” noted Lynn Casto, head of upper school. “This is one tangible sign that bringing international diversity to our campus is important.” The rewards of cultural diversity expand beyond campus. Math Department Co-chair and former AFS host parent Chris Mosberg noted: “When our youngest son, Josh ’04, was a junior, we hosted Jonas Ette from Germany. We have become good friends with his family and traveled to some remarkable places together. To be able to travel to Germany and learn about culture from our special friends has been an extraordinary opportunity.” While not associated with
A PATH LESS TRAVELED: Yanko and Maria Cajnar’s Journey to Sanford During World War II the communists came to each of the houses in Yanko’s village, Rakovec, near the city of Metlika, Yugoslavia (present day Slovenia). The communists who ran the country came to the family farmhouse and forced him to join the army. Fighting the Italians, Yanko was taken prisoner and sent to a prisoner of war camp on the island of Rab, off the coast of Croatia. The prison rations were inadequate and prisoners died of starvation every day. An elderly man shared his bread with Yanko, someone he felt had his whole life ahead of him. When the war was over the prisoners were left to walk home on their own. Yanko stayed home for a few months to get his strength back, but he knew his life was in danger and he had to leave Yugoslavia. He made his way across the border to Austria and came to a refugee camp in Salzburg. The farmers needed help on the farms, and Yanko was chosen to work at a farm in the village of Zinkenbach, near Salzburg. Yanko worked with the farmer for a few years but knew he needed to come to America to make a good living. Maria also lived in the village and they fell in love. Madam Pessl, a Jewish teacher from Sanford, returned after the war to this same village. Yanko and Maria went to her to ask if the school she worked for could use someone like Yanko. Madam Pessl wrote a letter to Mother Sawin During World War II, communists came to Yanko’s village in Yugoslavia. He was forced to join the army and fight.
1940s
1945 The war ends. Yanko makes his way across the border to Austria, works on a farm.
Yanko meets Maria; they ask Madam Pessl if there is work for Yanko at Sanford.
1946
as a letter of reference describing all of Yanko’s work experience. Since Sanford had different farm animals, fruit tree orchards and farming, Yanko’s expertise was desired. Mother Sawin wrote the government a letter of job offering so Yanko could come to America. While he waited for permission from the US government, Yanko and Maria took English lessons from Madam Pessl, so they would have some basic knowledge of English. Yanko traveled alone by ship to America in September of 1949, as he wanted to make sure that the job was what he had hoped for before bringing Maria over. The Sawins made Sanford a very international community with staff, teachers and students from all parts of the world, many of whom lived on campus. The Sawin family was very accommodating and kind to Yanko, and Sanford became his new home. Yanko loved the work and the family environment. In November of 1953 Yanko made arrangements to bring Maria and their son Hans to America on a ship called America. Yanko and Maria were very proud to go through the process of becoming American citizens at the same time. At Sanford Maria helped care for the young boys in the dormitory and sewed for the school (curtains, slip covers, art aprons, cheerleading uniforms, etc.). Yanko and Maria lived in Orchard Cottage and raised three children who all attended Sanford: Hans ’67, Martina Crompton ’74, and Annie Lester ’77. Annie and
1948 Mother Sawin writes letter to U.S. government to offer job to Yanko.
Yanko travels alone to U.S. by ship to see if Sanford was good for his family.
1949
1953 Yanko brings Maria and son Hans to America... and Sanford.
Yanko’s grandson Hans Crompton ’10 were Sanford lifers. Yanko’s contributions to the growth of Sanford’s physical plant, including Geipel Gym and Albright Hall, remain a part of his legacy. Yanko also expanded the living space of Orchard cottage for his family. Mother Sawin, who respected Yanko’s work of maintenance and construction and his love of Sanford, offered Yanko and Maria the privilege of living on campus for the rest of their lives. Yanko was very thankful to be presented the Alumni Award during the inaugural year. Chip MacKelcan, past head of Sanford, honored Yanko by naming the bridge in the woods Yanko’s Bridge. Yanko sponsored the renovation of the wishing well in the valley in honor of his son, Hans ’67, who passed away at 19. Yanko never expressed missing his homeland because of his experiences during the war, but he wrote to his family in Slovenia often. Yanko traveled with his family back to his farm in Slovenia 50 years after leaving, where he was happy to visit with his nieces and nephews and their families and some older people in the village who still remembered him. After that trip he was very happy to arrive back at Sanford. Yanko, at 90, and Maria. at 92, both passed peacefully in their beloved Orchard Cottage. Yanko and Maria were always so grateful for their wonderful life in America and at Sanford and for everything that the Sawin family and the school did for them and their family. Yanko and Maria lived in Orchard Cottage, raised 3 children, Hans ’67, Martina Crompton ’74, and Annie Lester ’77. Annie and Yanko’s grandson, Hans Crompton ’10, were Sanford lifers.
1954
2002 Chip MacKelcan honors Yanko by naming this bridge in the woods Yanko’s Bridge.