SHARON RADAWSKI AND ME …
I have often wondered, "What if I were born and adopted out to another family? Would I want to someday find out who my real parents were?"
I have a story to tell and after 42 years and my state of my health failing more rapidly, I wanted my daughter to know this. I never meant for this to happen, but it did.
Sharon and I met at Eastern Bible Institute and started to date the second semester, we were allowed one off campus date, which we did with James Leake and his girlfriend (now his wife). We went to Valley Forge for our date and James and his girlfriend when somewhere else. Sharon and I thought that we were in "Love" and I for the first time had done something that was new to me and I as an Ole Country Boy was head over hills in "Love" this later I find out was not her first time. This would have been about April 1960. After the end of the School Year, Sharon's father was the Pastor of one of the largest churches in New York State at Bethpage, Long Island at the time. They arranged for me to come to New York and had a job that paid real good for me working during the days for Delina Brothers, pouring Concrete for Paddock Pools and Patio also. I also when to work on weekends with the Teen Challenge Program with Rev. David Wilkerson. During the week I lived with Sharon's folks and on weekends worked in New York City with the "Teen Challenge Program". I stayed in a Hotel with Nicky Cruz who had recently become a Christian and another ex-leader of the "Chaplain Gang" named Roberto. I would also stay at the "Teen Challenge Office" on Staten Island, and when I was there I would roll up Christian Tracks and put them in tubes that was handed out to the troubled gang members. Towards the end of summer Sharon's folks were going to New Mexico to visit with some relatives and they brought me back to Maryland on the way. We stopped at her aunt's in New Jersey, I think her name was Marie ??. We spent a day or two there and went on to Maryland. My parents when I got home had all new dishes and "Man was that place" looking different then I remembered. They went out of their way to impress these folks, they even served the meals on Mom's best "China??", I was kind of shamed about what all Mom and Dad had done to welcome all of them.
Sharon stayed with us for a few days and then they left for the relatives and I didn't get to see her till the second year of school at Greenlane, Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, her and I always figured "In the eyes of God" we were a married couple. I suppose (today) looking back that was a good enough excuse to continue on with the relationship. Sharon only went the first Semester that year and we wrote a pile of letters to each other. Later, I got into trouble with my demerits and had to leave school one month early for doing things that I wasn't suppose to do. Like sneaking off campus with the school truck which I had keys to, due to the fact that I had a job going and picking up items in town for the school, and it was nothing to see that ole truck going off campus at different times. I remember one time have about 4- 6 guys laying in the back and we went to Quackertown Bowling Alley. "We jokingly called ourselves" the Holy Rollers. I and my buddy Tom Harbaugh use to slide under the fence at the Reservoir (where there was no fishing) and fish at night. I also had keys to the Cafeteria which come in Handy to cook the fish. (It sure was good fishing at that Reservoir). We often would go to Landsdale creek and catch "Bull Frogs" and deep fry the legs. I would invite a lot of the "Future Ministers" down late at night to share in this wonder meals that we were having. Well the school caught up with me and had a "Huge meeting" and Rev. Radawski came down and set in on those meetings also (I suppose trying to help me out). They The School decided I was expelled for 6 months. I when on to New York with the Radawski Family. It felt like the end of the world to me due to my folks trusting me to be away from home. This meeting happened in May on 1961.
I worked with the Delena Brothers until late June of that summer, when I realized that Sharon was pregnant, but she wouldn't tell her parents, she always did what "they" wanted. I wanted to go with her to confront them, but she wouldn't let me. I was working with the Delina Brothers and Rev. Radawski worked some of the times with them also. At the end of the day, I went to him and I told him that I had something I had to tell him. I told him that I thought that Sharon was Pregnant. He just stared at me and walked away got into his car and left. I was staying with Ray Delina at his tailor at the time, and I wasn't allowed any contact with Sharon. I called all the time. I decided that I would go to their church at Bethpage and try to talk to Sharon. I stood in the back behind some curtains to a different section until Sheryl looked around and I got her attention, I motioned for her to get Sharon and they came back to the pastor's study to talk to me. I suppose "Mrs. R", (that is what everyone called her) knew something was going on and in the middle of talking to Sharon and Sheryl she came storming into the office, yelling at me and saying "Look what you done to us". She then beat me in the face until I finally fell to the floor and Sheryl stopped her, I got up, looked at Sheryl and said "Thanks" and left. I had to walk quit a ways to Tays and when I got to the tailor where Ray was he asked "What in the world happen to you"?. It was obvious to him that I had taken a beating somehow. I didn't want to tell him everything, but I broke down and we had long talk. I stayed on Long Island for another week hoping something would happen that the Radawski family would try to get ahold of me, but nothing.
I left for Maryland and left everything I owned at a friend that I had met up there and caught a Greyhound bus to Frostburg Maryland. I really hated to face Mom and Dad, but they acted like they were glad to see me. I waited till September and I didn't want to stay at home as a bum, so I joining the Marine Corps. During this time I met my future wife Carolyn McKenzie and we started to date. She went with me to send me off to Boot Camp. After Boot Camp, her and I was planning in letters to get married when I got home. Her parents had started plans for the Wedding, but I didn't want too until I told her that I may have had a child to another women. I only had 4 days till I had to be in Memphis for schooling on Aircraft, so I told her everything that had happened to me prior to meeting here. She said, "It doesn't matter, she Loved me". We took off and got married (That is a Different story of its own). That was June 12th, 1962 and we finally for the first time really found out what "Love" was.
For 28 years I never was able to enjoy special Holidays. Carolyn deep down knew what it was, that I possibly had a child that didn't know me and I knew nothing about where "She or He" was. I would find out where they were and call, but all I could get was "Mrs. R" and she told me the baby was born dead, and I should get over it. All I wanted was to visit the grave. I found out that the Radawski's was living in California and had a Christian School in El Cajon and one of the teachers was a dear friend of mine from back home, she was also a friend of Sharon's. I was doing Contracting work after the Marine Corps and they asked me to remodel their home. I was able to find out where the Radawski's were living from her.
In 1988, I searched for a phone number and found one. This time Sharon answered the Phone, but she didn't want to talk about it. I told her how empty I felt and that my wife knew I had be calling for all those years and getting a message from "Mrs. R" that the baby was dead and get on with my life that I wasn't able to talk to Sharon (who worked there). Sharon, I said to her "How would you feel if someone took your kids and you never knew anything for 28 years?". I also promised that I was going to walk if need be, to California, and stand in front of their school with signs that read "The Radawski's gave my baby away"....... She finally told me she had a girl in March of 1962 and adopted her out to some family that really wanted and needed a baby. It finally got her that I would not drop find out all I could more about her. Laverne Tripp from the Blue Ridge Quartet had someone he knew that wanted to adopt a child and they helped the Radawski's to give my child away.
Sharon became scared and finally "she claims" contacted the girl. Sharon asked for picture of me to show the girl. They promised to send me photos of Lisa. Of course there has never been any truth coming anything from them. Sheryl is the only person that I still thank so much for all that she and her husband have done to try to help me, but nothing works. All that I wish I could have was at least one Photo of Lisa and maybe her children.
A couple months ago I got a call from the mutual friend and she said that Sharon had sent me a letter and wanted to know if I wanted it, I said yes and made arrangements to go to her home. I started to read this letter (which was about 7 or 8 pages) and I only got to the second page and told our friend that if that is what is being told to Lisa, then I know why Lisa has a hatred for me. Sharon in the letter stated that I deliberately got her pregnant because of a calendar that I had in the car. "Yes" I did have a calendar in their car, I was showing Sharon the days that we should never had been together and I wanted her to tell her parents. I felt sure as Pastors that they would help and give consol to us on what to do, but that never happened "they broke us up" and Sharon never left her mother and father. I left the letter there on the table and told my friend I had read enough.
I am doing this due to my Heath and my wife. I have been married once and only once. All of my children know and knew all their lives about this and they had a half sister out there somewhere around Dallas Texas. I never knew what Love was till I met Carolyn and I Love her more today then I ever did.
For her sake and mine I wanted Lisa to know my side. Lisa, I hope someday you will know about this and you have a lot of sisters and brothers that would love to get to know you on your terms. "So long"
Dad