| FAMILY HISTORY |
Ray and Maria Nowakowski have been married 45 years. They met in El
Paso, Texas while Ray was stationed at Fort Bliss and Maria was working and
living in El Paso. After a short engagement they married in 1962 having two
wedding ceremonies, one in Detroit and the other in Chihuahua, Mexico. They
first lived in Syracuse, New York and relocated to San Bernardino, California in
1963 where they celebrated the birth of their first-born son, Michael Ray.
In 1966, Ray’s work brought the family to Phoenix, Arizona where their second
son, Martin Casimir, was born. In 1976 the family expanded to four children with
the arrival of Rosa Maria and Monica Irene.
Paso, Texas while Ray was stationed at Fort Bliss and Maria was working and
living in El Paso. After a short engagement they married in 1962 having two
wedding ceremonies, one in Detroit and the other in Chihuahua, Mexico. They
first lived in Syracuse, New York and relocated to San Bernardino, California in
1963 where they celebrated the birth of their first-born son, Michael Ray.
In 1966, Ray’s work brought the family to Phoenix, Arizona where their second
son, Martin Casimir, was born. In 1976 the family expanded to four children with
the arrival of Rosa Maria and Monica Irene.
integrate in an all white high school during the Civil Rights Era. In 1958, Raymond reenlisted and ranked
first out of a class of 111 recruits testing for ground to air missile and radar training.
After his military service Ray worked for General Electric’s Defense System Department, then as a
computer maintenance instructor at Honeywell.
first out of a class of 111 recruits testing for ground to air missile and radar training.
After his military service Ray worked for General Electric’s Defense System Department, then as a
computer maintenance instructor at Honeywell.
- From 1969 to 1978, Ray served Phoenix as a member of the Leadership & Education for the
Advancement of Phoenix. He was originally appointed as a commissioner by Phoenix Mayor Milt
Graham, then reappointed by Mayor’s Timothy Barrow and Margaret Hance. He is most proud of his
work that first brought the Head Start Program to Phoenix, and focusing on the needs of working
families, neighborhoods and minority groups. - Ray has been active in his church since the 1960’s and is a member of the Knights of Columbus.
Raymond Casimir Nowakowski, the grandson of Polish immigrants was
born in Detroit, Michigan in 1933. Ray made his parents proud by excelling
in school and graduated with honors from his high school. He followed in his
father’s, Casimir, footsteps as a union member (UAW-CIO) at Ford Motors
Company, where he became a journeyman electrician.
In 1956, Ray was drafted into the Army’s 101st Airborne, A.K.A. the
Screaming Eagles, best known for its wartime record of high achievements
and heroics.
In 1957, as a member of the 101st, he was deployed to Little Rock, Arkansas
to protect the Little Rock Nine, a group of Black students attempting to
born in Detroit, Michigan in 1933. Ray made his parents proud by excelling
in school and graduated with honors from his high school. He followed in his
father’s, Casimir, footsteps as a union member (UAW-CIO) at Ford Motors
Company, where he became a journeyman electrician.
In 1956, Ray was drafted into the Army’s 101st Airborne, A.K.A. the
Screaming Eagles, best known for its wartime record of high achievements
and heroics.
In 1957, as a member of the 101st, he was deployed to Little Rock, Arkansas
to protect the Little Rock Nine, a group of Black students attempting to
Maria Hernandez Nowakowski, the second oldest of seven children was born in Durango, Mexico.
When she was about four years old, her family moved to Las Alvarenas, a small agricultural community in
the State of Chihuahua. Her father, Miguel, passed away when she was nine years old, and she also lost
two brothers due to lack of medical care.
Maria attended grade school and due to family conditions was unable to attain a
secondary education. To help support their family, as a young girls, she and her
sister worked in the fields picking green chili, corn, tomatoes and cotton. As a
teenager, to help put her brothers through school, she worked as a migrant farm
laborer picking grapes, lemons and oranges in the American Southwest.
Later in life, while working in El Paso, Maria met her soon to be husband,
Raymond, during a blind date. Maria didn’t know much English and Raymond
didn’t know any Spanish, but love was the dominating factor in keeping these two
lovebirds together.
Throughout her life, Maria worked hard to instill good values and make sure her children were provided
for, both physically and spiritually. The following are a few examples of her work and service to others.
When she was about four years old, her family moved to Las Alvarenas, a small agricultural community in
the State of Chihuahua. Her father, Miguel, passed away when she was nine years old, and she also lost
two brothers due to lack of medical care.
Maria attended grade school and due to family conditions was unable to attain a
secondary education. To help support their family, as a young girls, she and her
sister worked in the fields picking green chili, corn, tomatoes and cotton. As a
teenager, to help put her brothers through school, she worked as a migrant farm
laborer picking grapes, lemons and oranges in the American Southwest.
Later in life, while working in El Paso, Maria met her soon to be husband,
Raymond, during a blind date. Maria didn’t know much English and Raymond
didn’t know any Spanish, but love was the dominating factor in keeping these two
lovebirds together.
Throughout her life, Maria worked hard to instill good values and make sure her children were provided
for, both physically and spiritually. The following are a few examples of her work and service to others.
- Over 20 years as a Nutritional Aide for the University of Arizona’s Cooperative Extension -
Maricopa County - Past President of Santa Rosa Community Council
- For the past three decades she has been active in her Church, dedicating much time to
Spanish Ministry, the fall festival, Guadalupanas, the choir, and coordinating fund-raising events - Previous Volunteer for the St. Vincent De Paul Society and St. Mary’s Food Bank, bringing food
and essential supplies to families in need - Volunteer counselor at the De Colores House, a domestic violence shelter for women and
children. - Prison Ministry through the Diocese of Phoenix
- Volunteer speaker for adult retreats for the Cursillo Center
- Help restore a church in Las Alvarenas, Mexico, and conducts clothing drives for the families in
this community - Previous Volunteer for the Mexican Consulate
- Provided home care to the elderly and homebound
| Maria Nowakowski meeting Mother Teresa as a representative of her church organization |
| Ray Nowakowski as an "All-American-Cowboy" in earlier years |
| Maria Nowakowski with her co-workers from U of A's Cooperative Extension Service |
| Ray Nowakowski Journeyman Electrician's Card |
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Ray and Maria stressed the importance of faith, family, and friends to their four children. Community
service for the Nowakowski children was not an option…it was a family character. Whenever others
needed help, whether it be the church, family, friends or others, Ray and Maria were - and still are - on the
top of their call list.
All four of the Nowakowski children graduated from Sts. Simon & Jude Elementary School and St. Mary’s
High School. Michael and Martin are graduates of Arizona State University.
Ray and Maria are now retired and are tirelessly devoted to spoiling and loving their 12 grandchildren.
service for the Nowakowski children was not an option…it was a family character. Whenever others
needed help, whether it be the church, family, friends or others, Ray and Maria were - and still are - on the
top of their call list.
All four of the Nowakowski children graduated from Sts. Simon & Jude Elementary School and St. Mary’s
High School. Michael and Martin are graduates of Arizona State University.
Ray and Maria are now retired and are tirelessly devoted to spoiling and loving their 12 grandchildren.
| Members of 101st Airborne escorting the "Little Rock Nine" to school. |
| Maria Nowakowski with 1st Cursillo group she spoke to. |