This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: GinaPA22 Surnames: Drosdak, Drozdak, Drozdiak, Drozdziak Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.eeurope.slovenia.general/6332.5.2.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Hi Lydia, Although I am not familiar with the name Vera, I am sure we are related somehow. My grandfather was Mitro (Dimitry) Drozdak. The reason I am certain that we are somehow related is that I know for sure that my grandfather Mitro had a brother Andrew, who was married to a Sophie (her maiden name was Didyk). Andrew and Sophie had lived in Hauto, the township where my grandfather lived; but I found that Andrew and Sophie later moved to the Port Carbon area. My grandparents had a son named Metro (who would have been my uncle--my dad's brother) who, ironically, I had only learned about a few years ago while doing family research. He lived in Fairfield, CT and died in 1997. No one in my family ever knew of him (My dad--his brother--died in 1973 and was the youngest sibling, and there would have been so many years between he and Metro that it is possible my dad wasn't even aware he had a brother Metro). I can only gather there must have been some 'falling out' or something that made ! him to go to CT, never having contact with his family in PA again. I know Mitro never married. Many 'Rusyns', like 'Slovaks' and other ethnicities at the time, usually named their children after their brothers, sisters, parents, etc. Ironically, my grandparents also had a daughter--my aunt Helen--a first name you also mention. I am living in the area where I grew up--not far from Hauto, where our families initially settled. I had lived out west for 10 years but came back to PA in 1986. Please feel free to email me at Gina.PhilsPhan@gmail.com if you'd like to swap more information. I have been in contact with 2 relatives--one in SE Poland, who lives close to where Mitro and Andrew came from (It was part of the Austrian Empire at that time), and his sister, who lives in Canada. Do you live in SC or CT? I do hope you'll keep in contact with me. Perhaps we can swap more information. I am also happy to have found another relative. I never knew my paternal grandparents, as they both died before I was born in 1955; then my dad died in 1973 before I had a chance to ask much about my heritage. We Rusyns have a very interesting, but sad, history. Thanks for writing....Gina Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.