Obituary for Meslow Frank Sienicki
Meslow “Mike” Sienicki died on Sunday, January 15, 2017, in Salem, Va. at age 95.
He grew up poor; his mother died when he was 13, but he made it a point to help others, including inviting homeless to his house for meals. He was a WWII Merchant Marine Academy graduate, and sailed in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Mediterranean during the war. He observed that all of the cargo he delivered to Murmansk, Russia during the war was stamped “Made in Russia” before it left the dock. After WWII, he was a Naval Reserve officer for many years, and worked continuously, often at multiple jobs simultaneously, until he retired and transferred his energies to volunteer work. In his 30s he owned a 12-family apartment building in Irvington, N.J., that had one retail store, and he personally kept it in good form. The day after he sold it, the rent on the [5 room] apartments went from $59/month to $159/month. He was simply not programmed to treat anyone unfairly. He sang in the Polish choir at St. Teresa Catholic Church in Linden, N.J., before moving to Missouri in 2010, and eventually, Virginia. He always felt that the greatest gift a person could give his fellow man was blood, and he donated over seven gallons.
He was predeceased by his wife, Casey, in 1986.
Meslow is survived by his 5 children, Agatha Pope (Doug) of Naples, Fla.; Ted Sienicki (Fifi) of Roanoke, Va.; Christine Whitcomb (Darrel) of Fairfax, Va.; Mike Sienicki (Sandy) of Farley, Mo.; and Joe Sienicki (Nancy) of Santa Barbara, Calif..; by 14 grandchildren; and 25 great-grandchildren. His children and grandchildren served as officers in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard.
The Sienicki family is being served by John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home and Crematory in Salem, Va., 540-389-5441.
He grew up poor; his mother died when he was 13, but he made it a point to help others, including inviting homeless to his house for meals. He was a WWII Merchant Marine Academy graduate, and sailed in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Mediterranean during the war. He observed that all of the cargo he delivered to Murmansk, Russia during the war was stamped “Made in Russia” before it left the dock. After WWII, he was a Naval Reserve officer for many years, and worked continuously, often at multiple jobs simultaneously, until he retired and transferred his energies to volunteer work. In his 30s he owned a 12-family apartment building in Irvington, N.J., that had one retail store, and he personally kept it in good form. The day after he sold it, the rent on the [5 room] apartments went from $59/month to $159/month. He was simply not programmed to treat anyone unfairly. He sang in the Polish choir at St. Teresa Catholic Church in Linden, N.J., before moving to Missouri in 2010, and eventually, Virginia. He always felt that the greatest gift a person could give his fellow man was blood, and he donated over seven gallons.
He was predeceased by his wife, Casey, in 1986.
Meslow is survived by his 5 children, Agatha Pope (Doug) of Naples, Fla.; Ted Sienicki (Fifi) of Roanoke, Va.; Christine Whitcomb (Darrel) of Fairfax, Va.; Mike Sienicki (Sandy) of Farley, Mo.; and Joe Sienicki (Nancy) of Santa Barbara, Calif..; by 14 grandchildren; and 25 great-grandchildren. His children and grandchildren served as officers in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard.
The Sienicki family is being served by John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home and Crematory in Salem, Va., 540-389-5441.
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