My father, Albert James Knez, was born 99 years ago today, in Chicago. The name on his birth certificate is Vojtěch Václav Kněz. Vojtěch is always Anglicized as Albert and Václav as James, based on the names given to corresponding saints.
Although he preferred to be called Al, a lot of his friends and family called him Alfie when he was young. Because of that, my mother had assumed that his name was Alfred. She said she didn't learn otherwise until the minister said, "Do you, Albert, take this woman..." and she said, "Albert? Who's Albert?"
No -- I don't think that's exactly how it happened either, but it's a fun story that she liked to tell.
Happy birthday, Alfie.
No comments:
Post a Comment