About Me

My great grandfather was from a quarry owning family in Poland. My great grandmother was born of a farming family, the Wasik’s from the same area of Poland. At the time their family were considered worlds apart and did not approve of my great grandparents relationship. So like something out of classic literature or 80′s movie the kids from the wrong side of the tracks fell in love and moved to America to escape their family’s disapproval.
They set up in Cicero near Chicago, Illinois where they raised their family of seven children. One of those seven became my grandfather and eventually gave way to my father. I don’t know much about my great grand father. I can’t even tell you what he did for a living. My father hardly knew his grandfather because he passed away while my father was toddler. In fact I never even saw a picture of my great grand father until I was scanning some photos for my uncle. This is one of the few known pictures in my family of the man that brought our family to America. Great002 Don’t know much about him other than he has that Florek head of hair and he seemed to have a good taste in clothing. Pinstripes and a sweet tie makes me wonder about that Cicero connection. By the way that is my father in middle as an infant. So why do I care so much about my past? I find it amazing that when I look at my family the only thing I seem to have in common with them is my name and my looks.

So who the heck am I?

I’m a prepress guy, a sailor, a geek and a father. I currently am a graphics production manager for packaging firm in De Pere, Wisconsin. While this has been my profession for over ten years I am currently finishing my MBA with a focus in marketing. After completing my MBA, I will need to take stock in my life and determine my next move. My future has not been set in stone or even clay, it’s still being sculpted.

When I’m not working, studying or spending time with my family you’ll find me on my sailboat. I love sailing. Sailing is one of the few sports that is cerebral in that you need to be thinking all the time but on the other hand it is very relaxing. My best thoughts come to me while on the boat. Whether we’re out in the middle of the lake or at the dock scrubbing the deck it seems to get my mind thinking. Hence the name and theme of my site, Starboardrail.

My family is my life and my two sons are the pride of my life. Being one of only two people in my generation with the Florek last name means that continuation of the family name depends on me. My youngest son is a spitting image of his father and by the look of the picture above his grandfather and great great grandfather also. I look forward to watching them grow and sharing with them all those experiences that I wish for them to have.

As I pointed out earlier, I have no idea what the future has in store for me. My future is open and it is only restricted by my own imagination. I have chosen my own path and when I look around I don’t see anyone else on that path with me. I am nothing like the men who came before me then again maybe I am since none of them followed their predecessors. So looking at my great grandfather I wonder what he was like and if I shared anything more in common with him then than my looks. Well maybe there is one other thing in common!