Kostrzewa Andrzej & Anna

Kostrzewa, Andrzej Kostrzewa, Anna In 1942, shortly before the liquidation of the Sandomierz ghetto, Roma Głowińska and her cousin, Gucia Głowińska, fled, at their parents’ insistence. Due to their Aryan appearance, the two were sure their Polish acquaintances would be prepared to put them up, but, much to their consternation, found that this was not the case. Ironically, salvation came from strangers. One day, in the winter of 1942, upon arriving in the town of Piastow, near Warsaw, they knocked on the door of Andrzej and Anna Kostrzewa, a childless couple who lived in a one-roomed apartment. Despite the fact that Kostrzewa earned a paltry salary as a school caretaker, the Kostrzewas took the two refugees in, and provided them with forged birth certificates. Despite the forged certificate, Gucia was arrested in the street, and disappeared without a trace. The Kostrzewas reassured Roma, who feared a similar fate, telling her: “God will protect us.” Roma stayed with the Kostrzewas, who held themselves responsible for her safety, and shared their meager fare with her, until September 1945. After the war, Roma contacted the Jewish Committee and, upon discovering that none of her family had survived, immigrated to Israel. In risking their lives for Gucia and Roma, the Kostrzewas were inspired by a deep religious faith and love of their fellow man. For many years, Roma kept up ties with her saviors, and did her best to alleviate their poverty. On May 25, 1988, Yad Vashem recognized Anna and Andrzej Kostrzewa as Righteous Among the Nations.