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Today’s alumni journey takes us back in time to the graduating class of 1923 and Miss Lillian S. “Lily” Zdenek.
Lillian, the youngest of eight children, was born on April 28, 1905, to Katherine and John Zdenek.
On May 13, 1905, a local newspaper, the South Side Signal reported Lily’s birth. The actual birthday was reported incorrectly by one day.
Her mother, Katherine Melsha, came from Chrudin in eastern Bohemia and her father, John, from Jindice; both cities are now in the Czech Republic. They met and married in New York City in about 1888. Until 1904, they lived in New York City where John worked in the cigar business and Katherine cared for a growing family, beginning with the birth of Camilla in 1890, then Anna, followed by Mary (who died at four months), William, Bertha, Henry, and finally Lillian in 1905.
In 1904, desiring a less urban environment for their growing family, they moved to Bohemia, Long Island, where they lived on a small farm, although the main livelihood of the family came from John’s employment in a Bohemian cigar factory. John and Katherine had to make each dollar stretch, but the children always had enough to eat and were cared for and loved. In March 1906, they purchased a Bohemia home and land from Mr. Frank Humel, II.
Sisters Camilla, Anna, and Bertha, who were six to fifteen years older than Lillian, were very attractive, popular, and had an active social life. Lillian’s life took a different track. She went on to high school doing quite well academically and athletically.
In the years around 1920, the scores on the New York State Regents exams and on the New York State Physical Ability competitions were published in The Suffolk County News. Lily repeatedly scored well in mathematics, algebra, geography, and English and in the three events for girls measured against statewide standards.
Lily as a young lady. Exact date unknown.
Life, however, did not always go smoothly for Lillian during her high school years. She had a harrowing, life threatening experience on one snowy day walking home to Bohemia from Sayville High.
She was so cold and tired that she laid down in the snow to sleep. She only survived because a farmer driving in a wagon, came by and saw her sleeping on the side of the road. He picked her up and took her home. Otherwise, she would have frozen to death.
Lily’s High School – “Old 88”
Lillian graduated from Sayville High in 1923. There were no senior pictures back then (that we know of) but the photo right of young Lily was perhaps around the time of graduation.
She then began the business program at Brown Business School in Jamaica, Long Island.
Upon graduation from Brown, she began her first job working at Grapeola Juice Company in New York City.
Lily’s 1920’s Long Island Railroad Pass
Shortly, thereafter, the man who hired her was fired; when Grapeola refused to pay her, Lillian quickly departed. This was followed by a number of jobs in midtown Manhattan, including positions at Oscar D. and Herbert B. Dyke Real Estate and the Packard Motor Company. Rather than commute to and from Bohemia, she lived first with a Czech family in New York and then at the Junior League Hotel.
Unable to cope with the vulgarities of life in New York, she returned to Bohemia in the late 1920’s.
During the next few years, she lived with various sisters, worked for several local Sayville firms, and met Leonard Lussier, whom she married approximately ten years later.
Lily About 1928
Lily in the late 20’s
Lily’s parents both died in the late 1930’s.
Her mother Katherine passed away on June 23, 1936 at the family home on Smithtown Ave. in Bohemia.
Two years later, her father, John Zdenek, died at age 85.
Katherine and John Zdenek
Lily (left) in Reno, NV with three friends
When the Depression came, Lillian returned to New York where she worked for the city government processing welfare casework claims. In 1937, she decided to make a fresh start moving West, first to Reno, Nevada and then to Los Angeles, California.
Lily and her baby, Ginny Lussier
In 1938, Lily married Leonard Lussier. Lily continued to work in downtown Los Angeles. Once pregnant, Lily became a stay-at-home mother until her daughter Virginia Lee Lussier, born in September 1941, began school. After WWII, Lily returned to work. Leonard left the naval shipyards to pursue his writing career at home.
By early 1948, with Leonard’s writing career failing to blossom and his romantic interests focused elsewhere, the decision was made to move East, with Lillian and Virginia going to Sayville, Long Island to live with Lily’s sister Anna and her husband, Paul O’Grady. Leonard settled into his parent’s home in Salem, Massachusetts. By 1950, the marriage had dissolved.
During their first two years in Sayville, Lillian and Virginia lived with Paul and Anna (Zdenek) O’Grady. Anna acted as a surrogate mother to Virginia, referring to her as “my shadow,” and providing much love and support.
Then Lillian and Virginia moved into an apartment located less than a block from Sayville Elementary School. Lily’s family included her daughter Virginia Lee Lussier, her sisters; Camilla (Zdenek) Munkelwitz, Anna (Zdenek) O’Grady, and Bertha (Zdenek) Stryker. Lily’s nephews and nieces, all Sayville High School graduates, were very important to her. They included Marjorie (O’Grady) Feeney, William Stryker, Sr., Equinn (Munkelwitz) Munnell, Shirlee (Munkelwitz) Nugent, and Robert (Munkelwitz) Munnell.
Collins Ave house, Sayville NY
Finally, in 1952, a house became available for sale on Collins Avenue in Sayville, located just three houses away from Anna and across the street from Camilla. Lily’s sister Bertha also lived nearby. The location of this house was perfect for creating a very strong, loving and supportive family environment.
Soon after her arrival in Sayville, Lillian went to work in the Business Office of La Salle Military Academy in Oakdale, Long Island. Run by the Christian Brothers, Lily found the environment to her liking and they liked both her and her work performance.
For many years La Salle Military Academy was considered one of the top preparatory schools on the East Coast. It was accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Its academics were held in the highest regard.
Lilly receiving 20-year service award from La Salle Military Academy, Source: The Suffolk County News, January 8, 1970
Lillian traveled with her daughter, who was a Fulbright Scholar in Bolivia, around the southern countries in South America. This was followed by trips with her sisters to France and Ireland, and then with her daughter to Western Europe and to Russia.
Lily loved to travel and visit new places. In the picture album at the end of this story are photos of Lily visiting many places around the country. A few places Lily visited included Abraham Lincoln’s childhood home (from age 7 to 14) in Lincoln City, Indiana, Christmas 1997, Abraham Lincoln’s home (while President), Springfield, Illinois, 1998 and Natchez, Mississippi, 2002.
At approximately age 95, Lily moved again to Los Angeles where her daughter Virginia was an administrator and professor at California State University, Northridge.
In her final years, she enjoyed the sights, museums, environs, and family members in the Los Angeles area.
She died in Los Angeles at age 105, in October 2010, of a bronchial infection that she was not able to overcome.
Lily on her 104th birthday
Reflecting upon Lily’s life, we are reminded of the fitting and inspiring words of Catherine Pulsifer; “Life isn’t about your age. Life is about living.
So when your birthday comes be thankful for the year that has just past and anticipate with a happy heart what the coming year will bring.”
The photographs that follow show Lily living life in her late 90’s and early 100’s. Lily’s travels and adventures around the Los Angeles area reinforce that very important lesson; life isn’t about your age… it’s is about living!
Our endless waves alumni story was prepared by Lily’s daughter, Dr. Virginia Lussier, who graduated from Sayville High School, class of 1959.
Below are related family members also featured in our “Endless Waves” series, who are Sayville High School graduates.
To learn more about Bohemia, Suffolk County, Long Island, New York, visit the Bohemia Historical Society at http://www.bohemiahistoricalsocietyny.org
Would you like to contribute a story to “Endless Waves… Remembrances of Sayville Alumni”?
Please do so! It would be so very much appreciated.
Help us all to remember!
Please contact halgbrown@sayvillealumni.org
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