The Arab and the Brit: The Last of the Welcome Immigrants

Acknowledgments

xv Acknowledgments I decided that my family had an interesting story when I began to realize as a teenager that I didn’t know anyone else who had a parent from the Middle East or who had a grandparent who came to the Western Hemisphere as an indentured servant when still a child. During my parents’ retirement years, they researched their family histories. Much of their work is reflected herein. There would be no story without the research and notes provided by Nicholas H. Rezak and Frances Pauline Curnick Rezak. This humble endeavor is dedicated to them and their parents . Their courage and grit will amaze the reader, as they have me. My cousin Louis Rezak is responsible for the thoughtful account of life in Dave and Mary Rezak’s family. Cousins Helen, Robert, Jack, Barbara , and Chris added to this fine fabric. While I was doing the research for the book, my uncle Dick Rezak was still alive for me to interview for the details regarding his and his family’s life. My brother, David M. Rezak, who is currently a faculty member at Syracuse University, has helped fill in blanks and visited Barnardo ’s Home in London to obtain countless details regarding our maternal grandparents. I was astounded at the records and photographs that Barnardo’s Home had kept regarding my grandparents. This material facilitated a re-creation of their lives and helped make the endeavor a fascinating experience. My editor at Syracuse University Press, Mary Selden Evans, has the patience of Job. She found critical readers, all of whom provided valuable feedback and encouragement. Her support has been key to the completion of this endeavor. xvi | Acknowledgments Mary’s editorial assistant, Kelly Balenske, gracefully accepted the role of technogeek in helping this old dinosaur to format things. And Annie Barva tried to reteach me English grammar and helped make the language flow. The Arab and the Brit ...