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Henry F. Majka (July 19, 1924 - February 21, 2006)

A second generation Polish-American, was born in the Frankford section of Philadelphia, the youngest son of Joseph and Mary Salomon Majka. When he was a year old, the Majka family, which included his brothers, Joe and Ed, and sister, Marie, moved to Pottstown, PA, and remained there for 15 years before returning to Philadelphia. He attended Dobbins Vocational School before being accepted as an apprentice toolmaker at the Frankford Arsenal Trade School. While attending the "FATS" for one year, World War II began, and he was then drafted into the US Army and assigned to the 903FA Bn, 78th Infantry Division.

Henry served three years in the Army, which included one-and-a-half years in England, France, Belgium and Germany. While in Germany, he voluntarily served as a non-commissioned forward artillery observer until the war ended. He was recommended for a Battlefield Commission which he received at the conclusion of the war, while a member of the US Army Reserve Corps. With limited Polish language skills, Henry was involved in liberating German Slave Labor Camps, whose population included Poles, Russians, and Gypsies. After completing military service, Henry finished the final two years of High School in one year and received his diploma from the Accelerated Veterans' Program at Benjamin Franklin High School. Immediately upon graduation Henry joined Rohm and Haas at the Bridesburg location. Three months later he was accepted by Drexel University and attended Drexel while also working full-time for Rohm and Haas. He graduated from Drexel with a degree in Chemical Engineering. While at Rohm and Haas, he held a variety of engineering, sales, marketing and corporate management positions before electing to take early retirement in 1987.

Since retirement, Henry remains active pursuing his interest in sailing on his 27 foot boat Dziecko, as well as maintaining a summer home in the Cape May, NJ area. As a result of his interest in aviation, he has taken several hot-air balloon flights, and just recently received glider instruction.

Henry is an active member of the American Council for Polish Culture, the Polish Heritage Society of Philadelphia, and the Associated Polish Home, and a supporting member of the Paderewski Female Chorus and the Adam Mickiewicz Polish Language School. He's a former member of the Polish American Musicians Association and played drums in a variety of orchestras and bands for weddings, dances, picnics, funerals and parades.

He provides invaluable moral, emotional, financial and physical support for many Polish-American activities, on both local and national level, in which his wife is involved.

Henry has been married for 21 years to the former Debbie Phillips. He has two daughters: Barbara Majka, who resides in Atlanta, GA and Allison Letterman of San Pedro, CA. Henry and Debbie have travelled extensively in Europe, especially Poland.

Resume date: 1999

Henry Majka and his wife Debbie

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From: Resume

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