Photo: Dr. Stoj receives the Knight’s Cross from President of Poland Andzrej Duda on Sept. 21st, 2019.
Dr. Marion Stoj was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Merit from The Republic of Poland by the President of Poland, Andrzej Duda, on September 21, 2019 in New Britain, CT in recognition of Dr. Stoj’s contributions to cooperation between Poland and the United States.
Among other contributions, in 2017 Dr. Stoj established the Falcons Academic and Athletic Association (FAAA). In order to preserve and prevent commercial development of 25 acres of historic parkland in New Britain called the Polanka, located on Farmington Avenue, Dr. Stoj made a charitable donation to enable FAAA to purchase the property.
For generations, Polish American groups and other CT organizations have used this property for recreation, dances, picnics, concerts and various cultural events. The property also includes New Britain Falcons soccer field, where Dr. Stoj played for over 50 years.
The new deed to the property permanently restricts housing or commercial development. Dr. Stoj’s intent was to allow the property to remain undeveloped and available to Polish American groups and other residents of Connecticut for cultural events and sports as it has been in the past.
