Clifton Merchant Magazine - October 2016

John Pogorelec’s father, Albert, had an advantage over other Slovaks-he was born in America. However, at the age of one, he and his parents Front from left: Alexandra Pogorelec, Thomas Pogorelec, Suzanne returned to Slovakia, where Albert Pogorelec, Rebecca Hess, Ashley Hess, and Brooke Hess. Standing: Jason lived until he was a young man. After Pogorelec, John D. Pogorelec, Sr., Phyllis Pogorelec, Robert Hess, Pamela marrying, Pogorelec’s dad came back Hess, and John D. Pogorelec, Jr. to the United States and settled in Clifton to raise five sons.

After the New Year, once the Feast of Epiphany has It’s a classic American success story as the boys went ended, a priest visits and blesses the homes. And on on to do well, including John, who many people know as Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday, the day the attorney for the city’s Zoning Board of Adjustment. before Easter Sunday, baskets of food to be enjoyed on Raised with Slovakian traditions, John Pogorelec has the next day are decorated at home and brought to church done his best to share the spirit of his people with the to be blessed. next generation. “My children don’t speak Slovakian, “Slovakians are very religious people because that’s but they do pray in that language,” he said. all they had to fall back on in the Old Country,” His children also grew up learning the customs that Pogorelec said. Many Slovaks, including Pogorelec surrounded the holidays. For instance, in early worship at Ss. Cyril & Methodius Church on Ackerman December, they observe the Feast of St. Nicholas. At Ave. In addition to churches, many ethnic groups estabChristmas Eve supper, called Vilia, they share platky, lished social clubs and even their own lending instituwhich is unleavened bread. tions.

28 October 2016 • Cliftonmagazine.com