Patricia
Ganson Repanich -
Family History, Croatia
Pat Repanich grew up on Bainbridge Island, class
of 1957, graduated from WSU, and taught elementary school in Moses Lake and
Mattawa. Her book
As the Tree Fell (2012) chronicles the search
for her husband’s ancestral roots in Croatia. The inquiries soon lead to
the discovery of Croatian relatives who live on the beautiful island of Vis.
The book provides a picture of two families - one in the US, the other in
Croatia - and how the parallels and differences in their experiences express
the emotions of relatives who are forced to separate and live life in two very
different worlds. Upon retirement, the American Repanich family decided
to purchase a fixer-upper seaside villa on Vis where they now enjoy their
retired life. Pat Repanich says that the experiences of living in a
different culture are at times very challenging but most often
joyful, and full of humor. She loves all the challenges and is happy to be
able to share her experiences with her readers.
