Farewell to America’s Polka Ambassador Tony Petkovsek

Over his career, he interviewed the many polka music leaders locally, nationally and internationally including Frank Yankovic, Lawrence Welk, Bobby Vinton plus renowned folk artists Lojze Slak and Slavko Avsenik of Slovenia. He taped conversations with two presidents of Slovenia and national news correspondents here in the United States.
He was a former partner and vice president at the long established Kollander World Travel Inc. (a division of Kompas Tours in Europe).

In 1967, Tony originated the concept of the “Polka Tour” and as a result, arranged and co-hosted thousands of travelers to see the world, accompanied by polka bands from across the country. The tours took talented musicians and bands on planes, cruise ships, motor coaches, trains throughout the world, and tours through all of Europe, South America, the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii, and even Australia, all guided by “America’s Polka Ambassador”, Tony
Petkovsek.

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He traveled to his beloved Slovenia over 50 times throughout his life. Tony established a core volunteer booster group, his own “Cleveland Slovenian Radio Club” committ ee. Many community projects ensued over the years raising thousands of dollars through “Radiothons” for the Slovene Home for the Aged and for the then new independent country of Slovenia to be recognized by the US government in 1991.

In 1963, Thanksgiving became a polka holiday weekend for Clevelanders and travelers alike, commemorating Tony’s initial broadcast on Thanksgiving Day, 1961. His Radio Club sponsored these Thanksgiving Festival events, originally held at the Slovenian National Home on St. Clair Avenue, followed by St. Joseph High School on E. 185th Street, and for the last several decades, the event has continued in Tony’s tradition at the Marriott Hotel, downtown Cleveland, att racting thousands of fans from over 20 States, Canada, and Europe as the premiere Cleveland-Slovenian style event.

He has been an active founding member of the American Slovenian Polka Foundation which established the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame in Euclid. He is a Lifetime Achievement Award Winner and Chairman Emeritus of that organization.

In former years, Tony also helped organize some of Cleveland’s largest outdoor festivals on E. 185th Street, known as the “Old World Festival“ as the volunteer entertainment chairman, serving on the board of the Northeast Shores Development Corporation. As a former resident and businessman in the E. 185th Street, former Cleveland Mayors Voinovich and White appointed Tony to the Board of Zoning Appeals at Cleveland City Hall. He later served Governor Voinovich on the Ohio Arts Council and also emceed two gubernatorial inaugurations in Columbus for his longtime friend George Voinovich.

Throughout his career, he received over 100 awards and proclamations presented by international, national, state, county and city representatives and organizations for his contributions to the community. In 1967, he was named “Slovenian Man of the Year” by the federation of Slovenian Homes becoming the youngest person ever to receive this great honor. With the distinction of hosting America’s longest daily polka and nationality radio show, he was inducted into the prestigious National Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 1991.

He considers the Slovenian polka community as his true “family” and is grateful for the support he has received.
His popular polka music and community service show, continues in his name and tradition on Saturdays from Noon till 3PM on WINT-1330AM and 101.5 FM and also simulcasts worldwide on the internet at www.247PolkaHeaven.com, hosted by Joey Tomsick, Denny Bucar and Joe Valencic.

To all Polka Lovers and Fellow Slovenians!

I was very sad to hear of Tony’s passing; he was such a vital member of our Slovenian community. Tony’s loyalty and enthusiasm for everything “Slovenian” will be hard to duplicate. He was my classmate at St. Vitus School and a very dear friend. When Ameriška Domovina’s era ended, Tony and I chaired a meeting at St. Mary’s to see how we could fi ll the void all of us felt. From three such meetings, the Slovenian American Times emerged. He was always supportive and encouraging to all organizations and church groups. May he reap just rewards in heaven for all his good works!

Breda Loncar, Editor of SAT

Dear fellow Slovenians in Cleveland and in the U.S.A.!

In my name and in the name of the Office for Slovenians Abroad of the Republic of Slovenia, I would like to express my deepest sympathies on loss of your beloved “polka man” Mr. Tony Petkovsek! My sincere condolences also to Tony’s family and close friends! Our Office is very much aware of the importance of his work and role in raising awareness of Slovenian music and culture in the USA, therefore I am convinced that his name and endeavors and achievements will stay highly recognized in the historic memory of the Slovenian nation. The Slovenian community will forever keep him alive in its members’ hearts and I am convinced that many will follow his example of selfless work for Slovenian culture. If Frank Yankovich was “polka king”, then Tony was at least a “prince “ …

Yours sincerely, Peter J. Češnik Minister Ljubljana, February 18, 2019

 

Spoštovane rojakinje in rojaki v Clevelandu in ZDA!

Ob odhodu gospoda Tonyja Petkovška vsej slovenski skupnosti v Clevelandu in ZDA, pa tudi njegovim sorodnikom in najbližjim, v svojem imenu in v imenu Urada Vlade Republike Slovenije za Slovence v zamejstvu in po svetu izrekam iskreno sožalje!
Na Uradu se zavedamo izjemne in neprecenljive vloge dragega Tonyja pri ohranjanju slovenstva med rojaki v Clevelandu in tudi širše, zato sem prepričan, da bo še dolgo ostal živ v srcu vaše skupnosti in v spominu pradomovine Slovenije.
Verjamem, da bodo mnogi sledili njegovemu zgledu neomajne zvestobe slovenskim koreninam in nesebičnega dela za ohranjanje polke in s tem slovenstva v Združenih državah Amerike. ÄŒe je bil Frank Yankovich »kralj polke«, je bil Tony Petkovsek vsaj »princ« …

S spoštovanjem, Peter J. Češnik Minister Ljubljana, 18. 2. 2019

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