Person:Vendel Pier (1)

Fr Andrew Pier
Birth: 1910 Blandburg, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, USA
Death: 18 Mar 2003 (aged 92–93) Ohio, USA
Burial: Calvary Cemetery, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA
Memorial #: 123979568
Bio: FATHER ANDREW PIER, OSB Nationally renowned Slovak-American writer, historian and preeminent cultural activist Benedictine Father Andrew Pier, 93, a monk of St. Andrew Svorad Abbey in Cleveland, died Tuesday, March 18, 2003, at St. Vincent Charity Hospital, where he had been taken from Regina Health Center in Richfield, OH, his residence since 2001. He was the oldest monk in the abbey's 80-year history. Father Andrew had been a monk for 71 years. He marked his 66th anniversary of ordination as a priest on February 20. A native of Blandburg, baptized Wendelin Pier in 1910, he was the son of the late Vendel and Anna (Dokupil) Pier, both immigrants from Slovakia. He attended local public schools, graduating from Reade Township High School in 1926. Wendelin continued his studies at st. Procopius College (now Illinois Benedictine University) in Lisle, IL. In June 1930 he entered the newly established Saint Andre Svorad Benedictine Monastery in Cleveland, and was given the religious name, Andrew. He completed his novitiate year of training at St. Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, PA, and professed his first monastic vows on July 2, 1931. His studies for the priesthood were pursued at Saint Mary Seminary in Cleveland, and he was ordained a priest by the late Bishop Joseph Schrembs on February 20, 1937. Father Andrew was the last surviving member of his ordination class. He taught history, English and religion at Benedictine High School, and in 1937 wa named principal, a post he held until 1941. He also coached freshman and junior varsity basketball teams. He earned a master's degree in American History from Case Western Reserve University in 1943. Father Andrew retired from teaching in 1971 after 40 years in the classroom. Father Andrew made his only visit to Slovakia when he was two-years-old. The country would consume his intellectual and emotional energies for the next nine decades. when the country of Czecho-Slovakia was created by the Treaty of Versailles in 1918 after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which had ruled the Slovaks since the 15th century, Slovak patriots at home and abroad rallied to maintain the Slovak identity and culture. As a young priest Father Andrew became heavily involved in American-Slovak efforts to promote this cause. A prolific writer, Father Andrew authored numerous articles in English and Slovak in American and foreign publications. From 1960 until 1065 he wrote a weekly column, "Slovak News and Views" in the national Slovak-American newspaper, Jednota, the official publication of the First Catholic Slovak Union (FCSU). In 1952 he was among the founders of the Slovak Institute located at Saint Andrew Abbey in Cleveland. Under Father Andrew's leadership as director from 1958 to 2001, the Institute developed one of the largest collections of Slovak literature and memorabilia in the United States. In 1974 he published his autobiographical look at coal mining small town life in Western Pennsylvania, the Woodlands Above - The Mines Below, which is still available in print in English and Slovak. Father Andrew was an active member of many Slovak-American fraternals and organizations including : the First Catholic Slovak union; the First Catholic Slovak ladies Association; the Slovak League of America; the Slovak Catholic Sokol; and the Cleveland Slovak Radio Club. Working with the Slovak Catholic Federation in th 1960s, he was instrumental in the establishment of the Slovak Institute of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Rome, Italy, for the training of priests outside Slovakia which was then under Communist control. Over the years, Father Andrew received many distinguished awards and honors including the prestigious Hinka Silver Cup, presented to him by the Association of Slovak Writers and Intellectuals in 1991, the Stefan Banic Parachute Fondation Medal (named aft the Slovak inventor of the parachute) in 1997, and the Memorial Medal of the National Slovak Cultural Institute (Matica Slovenska) of Slovakia in April 2002. However, his greatest recognition came in 1993 when he traveled to New York City to receive the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in the Great Hall at Ellis Island, where his parents had entered the United States at the turn of the century. Also inducted that year were Secretary of State James Baker, General Norman Schwartzkopf, George Steinbrenner, Dr. Henry Kissinger, Natalie Cole and Mickey Mantle. Father Andrew was preceded in death by a brother, Steve. Surviving are a brother, Monsignor Joseph Pier of Johnstown, and a sister, Mary, of Johnstown. The funeral Mass for Father Andrew Pier, OSB, was celebrated in Saint Andrew Abbey Church on Saturday, March 22. Committal was in Calvary Cemetery, Cleveland.
Family Members
Parents
Wendell J. Pier 1936-2009
Anna E. Pier 1888-1980
Half Siblings
Joseph Pier 1912-2006
Mary Ann Pier 1921-2014
Created by: Joan of VA (46993634)
Added: 22 Jan 2014
URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/123979568
Citation: Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 08 July 2019), memorial page for Fr Andrew Pier (1910–18 Mar 2003), Find A Grave Memorial no. 123979568, citing Calvary Cemetery, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA ; Maintained by Joan of VA (contributor 46993634) .

1930 United States Federal Census
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Name: Wendell Pier
Birth Year: abt 1883
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthplace: Czechoslovakia
Marital status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Head
Home in 1930: Reade, Cambria, Pennsylvania, USA
Map of Home: View Map
House Number: 85
Dwelling Number: 260
Family Number: 271
Home Owned or Rented: Owned
Home Value: 1000
Radio Set: No
Lives on Farm: No
Age at first Marriage: 26
Attended School: No
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father's Birthplace: Czechoslovakia
Mother's Birthplace: Czechoslovakia
Language Spoken: Slovak
Immigration Year: 1906
Naturalization: Naturalized
Able to Speak English: Yes
Occupation: Miner
Industry: Clay Mine
Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker
Employment: Yes
Household Members:
Name Age
Wendell Pier 47
Anna Pier 41
Wendell Pier 20
Joseph Pier 17
Mary Pier 8

Wendell Pier
Birth: 1882
Death: 1967 (aged 84–85)
Burial: Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church Cemetery, Glasgow, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, USA
Plot: A/530
Memorial #: 61003016
Gravesite Details s/o Stephen W. and Katherine (Slezak) Pier, born in Pajstun, Slovakia, h/o Anna E. (Dukoupil) Pier
Family Members
Spouse
Anna E. Pier 1888-1980
Children
Joseph Pier 1912-2006
Mary Ann Pier 1921-2014
Created by: AlG (46774222)
Added: 2 Nov 2010
URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/61003016/wendell-pier
Citation: Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 08 July 2019), memorial page for Wendell Pier (1882–1967), Find A Grave Memorial no. 61003016, citing Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church Cemetery, Glasgow, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, USA ; Maintained by AlG (contributor 46774222) .

1920 United States Federal Census

View 1920 United States Federal Census
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Name: Vendelin Pier
Age: 37
Birth Year: abt 1883
Birthplace: Slovak Slk
Home in 1920: Reade, Cambria, Pennsylvania
Street: Blandburg
Residence Date: 1920
Race: White
Gender: Male
Immigration Year: 1906
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital status: Married
Father's Birthplace: Slavonia
Mother's Birthplace: Slavonia
Native Tongue: Slavish Slk
Able to Speak English: Yes
Occupation: Miner
Industry: Coal Miner
Employment Field: Wage or Salary
Home Owned or Rented: Own
Naturalization Status: Alien
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Vendelin Pier 37
Annie Pier 31
Vendelin Pier 10
Steve Pier 9
Joseph Pier 7

Wendell John Pier
Sex
Male
Birth
29 October 1892
Pajstun,Slovekia
Death
11 July 1967
Altoona,Blair Co,Pa
PARENTS
Father
Stephen Pier
Mother
Katherine Slezak
MARRIAGES (1)
Spouse
Anna E Dokoupil
Marriage
7 October 1908
Frugality,Cambria Co,Pa
NOTES (1)
Altoona Mirror, obit, 11 July 1967. Member, St Richard Catholic Church Blandburg. Employed y Harison-Walker nearly 50 years. Troxell Funeral Home Glasgow. 3 gc/ 7 ggc.
CITING THIS RECORD
"Pedigree Resource File," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:2:94T4-9GX : accessed 8 July 2019), entry for Wendell John Pier; file (2:2:2:MM9R-2YQ), submitted 13 May 2001 by dbritten2730347 [identity withheld for privacy].
ANCESTRAL FILE
Ancestral File Number
428P-TTG
PEDIGREE RESOURCE FILE
Person Count
21
Submission ID
MM9R-2YQ