Guide to the Witwicki Family Collection (1890s – 1970s) – History

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Kazimir Mikolaj Alojzy Witwicki (1888-1948) served in two armies spanning two world wars. He lived on three continents before finally settling in Santa Cruz in the late 1940′s. Kazimir was born in Kiev, Russia (now Ukraine), but considered himself and his family to be Polish. He served three years in the Russian Army before immigrating to the US in 1913. In 1917, he enlisted in the US Army. After World War I he continued to serve, eventually attaining the rank of Master Sergeant in the Army Air Corps. During his 26 years in the military he was stationed in the Philippines, Panama, Langley Field in Virginia, and March Field in California. In 1923, he married Ruth Roberts (1896 – 1975) of West Newbury, Massachusetts. During World War II, Kazimir primarily served on the west coast of the United States as a Provost Marshall. He was medically retired in 1944. He and Ruth moved to Santa Cruz in 1947, where they lived at 451 May Avenue. They were members of the Santa Cruz post of the American Legion. Kazimir died shortly thereafter on March 15, 1948. Ruth remained in Santa Cruz for the next 30 years. Kazimir and Ruth are both buried at the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno.