When Delores Pavlok-Kowalski, now 92 years old, attended St. Stanislaus High School in Cleveland’s Slavic Village soon after World War II, life was simpler. Girls wore bobby socks and saddle shoes with their school uniforms.
During her high school years, Pope Pius XII was the shepherd of the Catholic Church, President Harry Truman was in the White House and Frank Lausche, a Catholic who grew up in nearby St. Vitus Parish in Cleveland and served as the city’s mayor, was governor of Ohio.
Pavlok-Kowalski was enjoying high school and planned to graduate as a member of the class of 1951.
Unfortunately, things changed during her junior year. She was forced to put her plans on hold to care for her ailing father so her mother could work to support the family.
As the years passed, she married and raised a family, but never completed high school, meaning her much-desired diploma remained a dream.
One of her sons and daughter-in-law, Ken and Trish Kowalski, decided to make her dream a reality and surprised her with a graduation ceremony on June 15. They reached out to Cleveland Central Catholic High School to make arrangements.
When Pavlok-Kowalski attended St. Stanislaus High School, which was established in 1881, it was still a parish school. In 1968, St. Stanislaus and three other parish high schools in Cleveland – St. Michael the Archangel, Our Lady of Lourdes and St. John Cantius – merged and formed Cleveland Central Catholic High School, which is located adjacent to St. Stanislaus Parish.
John Simon, CCCHS president, connected with Ken and Trish Kowalski to facilitate the surprise graduation ceremony, which took place on Father’s Day.
“Today (June 15) was one for the memory books,” Simon said. “I was honored to confer an honorary diploma to Delores F. Pavlok-Kowalski as a graduate of St. Stanislaus High School class of 1951.”
Surrounded by her sons, family members and friends, Simon said the surprise ceremony for Pavlok-Kowalski took place in Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church in Put-in-Bay, a village located on South Bass Island in the Diocese of Toledo.
Simon traveled to Put-in-Bay to personally hand the diploma to her. He recounted the experience in a post on the school’s Facebook page.
“As I learned more about Delores, it was abundantly clear she has more than earned her diploma by exemplifying the values of commitment, courage, creativity, hope, and service throughout her life. Her love for her family and their love and respect for her were special to witness,” Simon said.
“Delores is a very humble person. She is more comfortable helping her family and others as she has done her entire life, spanning generations. Thanks to her son and daughter-in-law, Ken and Trish Kowalski for organizing the wonderful surprise graduation. Thanks to Deacon Jim O'Donnell at Mother of Sorrows Church for his help, as well,” he said.
“Today was indeed a great day to be an Ironman (and a St. Stan's Panther, too),” Simon added.
After surprising Pavlok-Kowalski with her diploma, the group posed for photos in the church before continuing their graduation celebration.