Miljenko

Pinjusic

Miljenko was born on August 10, 1933 in a small village in Croatia called Gorane where he spent his childhood with his brothers Ante, Andirija, Ilija and his sister Kata. Having lost his father at the age of 10, Miljenko stepped into his father's role as caretaker of his family. As a young man he was recruited into the Navy and left his beloved village behind. During his time in the Navy, he was deployed to the Island of Susak where he met his wife Dumica and they were blessed with their first child, Stephen. Not soon after, he was forced  to flee the communist regime and bravely escaped by row boat with 8 other fellow Croatians. Almost capsizing during the journey, by the grace of God they were rescued by a passing ship and made a safe voyage to neighboring Italy where he was given asylum and waited to be reunited with his wife and son. From there they migrated to Hoboken, New Jersey where they were once again blessed with 2 daughters, Kathy and Mary Ann. In 1969 they moved to Fairview where they spent most of their lives.