Born: January 9, 1907, Kiev
Died: September 12, 1991 in Chicago, USA
Buried : Maryhill Cemetery, Polish Veterans Section, Niles, Illinois, USA
Family: father Feliks Konarski; mother Wiktoria Polecka. His father died before the outbreak of WWII, while his mother survived the war and died in Kiev. His brother Wiktor survived the deportation to Siberia and returned to Kiev, where he lived until his death with his wife Luba and daughter Aleksandra.
Married: Nina Oleńska-Konarska (died in Chicago on January 20, 1983)
Military Medals: Monte Cassino Memorial Cross (Krzyż Pamiątkowy Monte Cassino); awarded twice Order of Polonia Restituta (Knight’s and Commander’s Cross) by the President of the Republic of Poland in Exile
Fates before joining Anders Army : Childhood in Kiev, scout. In 1921 he crossed the “green border” and arrived in Warsaw. Graduate of the Junior High School; student of the University of Warsaw (Faculty of Polish Studies). Since 1928 – an actor; author of cabaret songs (including “Spring, Spring is Finally” (“Wiosna, wiosna jest nareszcie”), “Where is Your Dad, Little Kid” (“Gdzie jest twój tata, smarkata”), “Five Boys from Albatross” (“Pięciu chłopców z Albatrosa”)); director of a traveling theatre. Nickname “Ref-Ren” given by Konrad Tom. In 1933 – marriage with actress/singer Janina Oleńska. The war found the theatre in Lviv. After the occupation of Lviv by the Red Army in 1939 Feliks Konarski and his ensemble left with a railway orchestra to perform in the USSR. After the amnesty in 1941, he volunteered for the emerging Polish Army in USSR.
Military history: Since 1941, he was the head of the army theatre, through Persia, Iraq, Palestine and Italy. An author of the song “Red Poppies on Monte Cassino” (“Czerwone maki na Monte Cassino”). In Italy, he created the “Polish Parade” (“Polska Parada”) theatre with Henryk Wars’ orchestra.
Post-War: 1945 – 1965 London, England – director of the Ref-Ren Theatre, performances. He recorded broadcasts for Radio Free Europe, the Polish section of Parisian radio, the Polish section of the BBC in London. He travelled with performances to Polish centers, particularly those where former soldiers settled, in Scotland, France, Germany, USA, Canada, Israel. Member and former president of ZASP (Polish Actors Association) abroad. 1965 – 1991 Chicago, USA – manager of the Ref-Ren Theatre, director of the “Red Poppies” radio show. Author of hundreds of songs and poems, plays and musical comedies, occasional programs for national holidays and military anniversaries.
author : Barbara Chałko
