Celebrating a Croatian-American visionary: ‘Radio Days of Vinko Kužina’ premieres in New York

by croatiaweek
October 31, 2023
in News

Premiere of ‘Radio Days of Vinko Kužina’ in New York

In New York, on Sunday, October 29, 2023, the film “Radijski dani Vinka Kužine” (Radio Days of Vinko Kužina) premiered at the Croatian parish of ‘St. Cyril and Methodius’ in Manhattan, in memory of the engineer Vinko Kužina, who had been active in this parish for many years.

Vinko Kužina was born in Šibenik on April 2, 1921. He completed high school in his hometown and graduated in civil engineering from the Technical Faculty in Zagreb in 1952. During World War II, he worked in Šibenik, and after the war, he co-founded the construction company ‘Izgradnja.’

In 1956, he emigrated to the United States. He worked in Pennsylvania for a while, and from 1962 to 1989, he worked and lived in New York.

He served as the secretary and later the president of the United States Croats in New York, the chief secretary of the organization for the US, and the chief editor of its journal for 11 years.

Since 1969, he was a co-founder and president of the Croatian Radio Club in New York, where he edited and hosted the show ‘Voice of Free Croatia.’ He authored and co-authored five anniversary memorial books, was a member of the Croatian Academy in America, and from 1999, served as the vice president.

He promoted the idea of an independent Croatian state at the Croatian People’s University and organized the collection of humanitarian aid through the Croatian Center during the Homeland War.

Many parishioners who personally knew and collaborated with engineer Vinko Kužina, especially at the Croatian Radio in New York, were present.

Petra Peša, the host and editor at the Croatian Radio in New York and the former president of the Croatian Radio Club, thanked the host, Father Nikola Pašalić, for his hospitality and the provided space. She also thanked all the attendees and added.

“For this event, we are grateful primarily to the Central State Office for Croats outside the Republic of Croatia, which provided the funds for the screening, and to the organizers: the Croatian Cultural Society of Minnesota and their President, Andrea Novak Neumann; the National Federation of Croatian American Cultural Foundation (NFCACF); the Association of Croatian American Professionals (ACAP), addressed by Ante Jay and Jasmine Golubović to the audience.

Thanks to the General Consulate of the Republic of Croatia in New York for its support in this project. A fantastic film—thanks to HRT; Thank you, Sandra Basso, Vesna Banovic and Zoran Drakulić. Thanks also to Klapa ‘Stine’ for their performance yesterday. Thank you to everyone for coming, and a big thank you to all those involved in any way in the making of this documentary film and also to those who helped celebrate its success yesterday by their presence.”

Zvonimir Crnogorac, the President of the Croatian Radio in New York, who had been the program host since the inception of the radio show “Voice of Free Croatia,” greeted all the attendees and proudly spoke about Vinko Kužina, not only as a collaborator but also as a good friend.