The story of my family starts in
Slovenia. All four of
my grandparents were born there, in the late 19th
century.
At that time, Slovenia was part of Austria-Hungary.
My mom's parents were Anthony Petan and Antonia Zvar. They were married in Germany in 1912, then emigrated to Pennsylvania. Their second child was my Mom, Anne Petan, who was born in 1916. Shortly thereafter, the family moved and settled in Cleveland, Ohio.
My dad's parents were Vance Legan and Frances Molnar. They also lived in Cleveland, and their second child was my Dad, Clarence, who was born in 1920.
My parents met shortly before World War II, while working together at Taylor & Boggis Foundry in Euclid, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland. By this time, both of their families had moved to Euclid. My father was in the Army during World War II, and he and my mother got married in 1943, in Seattle, Washington, while he was on furlough.
My sister Toni was born in Cleveland in 1946. I was born in Cleveland in 1953, and our family was rounded off in 1957, with the birth of my brother Greg, in Euclid. Please check out The Euclid 'Wonder Years' for a taste of what it was like to grow up as a Baby Boomer in Euclid.
My brother Greg passed away in 1990. If you knew him, please visit Remembering Greg, a special area dedicated to the memory of my younger brother.