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  *
THE (SEQUENTIAL) MAKING OF A BOOK *
My Grandfather, Dr. Stanciu Stroia, wrote this memoir between
1979 and 1986, more than twenty years after he was released from the
Romanian Communist prison system. My foremost gratitude goes to him, for
having had the courage to document his ordeal, despite the risk of being
detained again. My late father, Dr. Liviu Dusleag, deserves praise, because
it was at his suggestion and insistence that this chronicle, the incipient
version of which he reviewed before his unexpected death in 1986, came to
life.
The manuscript was “deciphered” and organized by my mother, Dr. Lucia
Dusleag, in Toronto, Canada, during the spring of 2000. Many
thanks go to her for her efforts in getting the project off the ground and
for her continuous and inexhaustible support. She was my biggest fan and
loudest cheerleader, and without her assistance, the book would have remained
a thought.
In the summer of 2000, graduate student Raluca Tudor from the
University of Bucharest, Romania, initiated the English translation of a
handful of pages under the supervision of Professor Lidia Vianu. I revised and
completed the translation between December 2002 and December 2004, in
Bloomington, Indiana. The result was not intended to be a verbatim
rendition of the original Romanian text, but rather an honest effort at
presenting the author’s thoughts without altering their meaning. The subtleties
of the Romanian manuscript were at times difficult to reproduce in English,
which does not do the author justice.
The italic text included in brackets […] constitutes addenda I
have inserted to facilitate the reader’s understanding of historical facts,
family circumstances and medical terminology. It also contains excerpts
from interviews conducted with other victims of the Communist purge. The
dates and descriptions of events added throughout the text are available in
the public domain, and every effort has been made to ensure their accuracy.
I am honored that Florin Constantiniu, professor of history
at the University of Bucharest and a member of the Romanian Academy, agreed
to review the introduction and historical notes during my short visit to
Bucharest in September 2004. His invaluable expertise guaranteed their
correctness. Romanian historian, former State Chancellor and Presidential
Advisor Floricel
Marinescu provided further historical advice, for which I am
also very grateful. Professor Ioan Ciupea from the National Museum of
Transylvanian History in Cluj entrusted me with a list of one thousand
names of political detainees, never-before-published and very pertinent to
the subject of this memoir. His selfless commitment to giving these victims
a voice is admirable, and represents an example for other historians of the
period to follow.
Professor Keith Hitchins from the University of Illinois at
Champaign-Urbana, the premier historian of Romania in the English-speaking
world, kindly read the final draft. I cannot express my gratitude for his
involvement in this endeavor. Vladimir Tismaneanu, professor of
government and politics and director of the Center for the Study of
Post-Communist Societies at the University of Maryland, took the time to
review the manuscript as well. I am thankful for his generous support.
Ron
Marmarelli, a freelance editor and a member of the journalism
faculty at Central Michigan University, patiently copyedited the manuscript
throughout the summer, fall, and winter of 2004. My sister, Alina
Cilnician, did additional editing and proofreading. Her
attention to detail, the valuable points she contributed, and her
constructive criticism were well received. Dan Piekarsky’s efforts in
reviewing and proofreading the pre-press copy are greatly appreciated too.
They all made the work fit for the publisher.
The photographs and documents included in the book were collected from
family albums and archives and were selected and scanned during the summer
and fall of 2004. I designed the two maps to underscore the introduction’s
message. The front cover photograph depicts Stanciu Stroia as a first-year
medical student and was shot in 1923 by Emil Fischer, the most
prestigious interwar photographer in Sibiu, Romania. I am also very indebted
to American artist Mel Chin, whose photographic art titled Jilava
Prison Bed for Father Gheorghe Calciu-Dumitreasa graces the back cover
of this volume. His creation sums up the torments of Communist imprisonment
better than any words. It was originally conceived for a 1982 Amnesty
International exhibition that called attention to the plight of political
prisoners.
Furthermore, many thanks go to Dr. David Damboiu and Alina and Dana
Damboiu for being such wonderful hosts and resourceful guides
during my Romanian prison-tour. Without them and Dr. Sanda Magureanu, Lucia
and Floricel
Marinescu, Stefan Andreescu, Lucia Maniu, Maria
and Alexandru
Ionescu, Dr. Stela Stroia, Ligia Corovei, Father Aurel
Harsan, Gabi Chelaru and Onuc Nemes, my trip would
not have been worthwhile. Meeting ex-political detainee and author Lena
Constante and being able to locate and contact Father Zosim
Oancea, Dr. Constantin Diaconescu, Cornel
Balaj and Ion Rosca, all former cellmates of my grandfather,
was very gratifying. They were graceful in providing details about their
prison nightmare.
The following people deserve a mention as well for their advice and help
at various stages: Joe Damboiu, Dia Dumitru, Ion
Gavrila-Ogoranu, Mioara Dordea, Ovidiu Cilnician, Terry
McAdorey, Barbie Jenkins, Miles Flynn, Rachel
Krupicka, Irina Eremia Bragin and Lidia
Gheorghiu Bradley.
Sadly, the unexpected and premature death of Dr. Bogdan Magureanu, a
brilliant mind, a humble spirit, and a dear friend, coincided with the
book’s release. One of my great sources of encouragement and support, Bobi
was eagerly anticipating reading this volume. An inspiration for everyone
who was fortunate to know him, he will be terribly missed. . . .
On a final note, a very special word of gratitude goes to my immediate
family. My wife, Kimberly Dusleag-Schill, supplied me with
smart ideas and challenging remarks, listened patiently to my constant
jabbering about the book, and tolerated the distractions from my household
responsibilities. Genuinely trying to grasp the importance of “your
grandpa’s book,” my four-year-old son, Jonathan, shared in my enthusiasm.
Creating this book proved to be a task more daunting than I had ever
imagined. Nevertheless, it was a rewarding learning experience. No less
than twenty-six years have passed between the time my grandfather made the
first entry in his note pad and I finished typing the last word of the
manuscript. After years of transcribing and translating, correcting and
rewriting, researching and scanning, editing and proofreading, with the
emotional toll this time-consuming project took on my family and me, I have
to let go of this book. It is time for the reader to be the judge.
Dan L. Dusleag, Bloomington, Indiana, March 2005
My Second University
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