Helenka Pantaleoni
Encyclopedia
Helen Tradusa "Helenka" Adamowska-Pantaleoni (November 22, 1900 - January 5, 1987) was an American silent film actress and humanitarian who was the founding director of the U.S. Committee for UNICEF
, a role that she held for 25 years. Pantaleoni was the daughter of Polish musicians Jozef and Antonina (Antoinette) Adamowski, who with Jozef’s brother Tymoteusz (Timothee) Adamowski
made up the Adamowski Trio. Helenka's mother was also the sister of Helena (Helene), the second wife of Polish pianist and diplomat Ignacy Paderewski.
, where she was born. She attended Miss Winsor's School in Boston. She studied dramatics and appeared in plays presented by the Junior League and the Vincent Club. "In 1917, on the occasion of Paderewski's presence in Boston in connection with aid for war victims, she appeared in a specially written play entitled: "The Spirit of Poland," which was given at Jordan Hall in Boston". In the 1920s, she appeared in silent film
s as well as on Broadway. She subsequently became head of the Children's Theatre Department of the Junior League
of New York
.
She married Guido Pantaleoni, Jr., in 1935. Guido, a New York lawyer, was a widower with three children (Guido, Nina, and Hewitt). He was a graduate of Milton Academy
, Harvard University
(1921), and Harvard Law School
. Guido was a nephew of Italian economist and politician Maffeo Pantaleoni
. He and Helenka had two children, Anthony and Michael Pantaleoni. Guido volunteered for service during World War II
. As a Lieutenant Colonel attached to the Office of Strategic Services
he was killed in action in Sicily in 1943, leaving Helenka with five children to raise.
Helenka Pantaleoni founded the Paderewsi Fund for Polish Relief in 1941. She served the fundraising arm of the American Red Cross
during World War II. After the war, she continued to serve in fundraising for the Polish Relief Commission. "Her work with the United Nations commenced when she was made accredited observer for the National Council of Women of the U.S.A. in 1946. She helped found the Women United for United Nations...."
She helped to found the U.S. Fund for UNICEF
in 1947, and served as the organization’s president from 1953 until her retirement in 1978. Her service as president of the U.S. Committee for UNICEF was unpaid. The Executive Director of UNICEF, James P. Grant
, wrote in 1994:
, who played for the Polish national hockey team in the 1928 Olympics. Helenka's stepson Hewitt Pantaleoni
was a professor and ethnomusicologist. Helenka’s granddaughter is American actress Téa Leoni
, who has served as a Goodwill ambassador for UNICEF since 2001 and is also a member of the Board of Directors of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. Her father (Helenka Pantaleoni's son) Anthony Pantaleoni is Chair of the Board of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF and Of Counsel to Fulbright & Jaworski
, the successor of the New York City law firm that his father Guido had founded in 1935.
U.S. Fund for UNICEF
The United States Fund for UNICEF is the United States non-profit non-governmental organization that supports the United Nations Children's Fund . Founded in 1947 by Helenka Pantaleoni, it is the oldest of the 36 UNICEF National Committees that support UNICEF worldwide through fundraising,...
, a role that she held for 25 years. Pantaleoni was the daughter of Polish musicians Jozef and Antonina (Antoinette) Adamowski, who with Jozef’s brother Tymoteusz (Timothee) Adamowski
Timothee Adamowski
Tymoteusz "Timothee" Adamowski was a Polish-born American conductor, composer, and violinist. Born in Warsaw, he studied in that city's conservatory, later moving on to further studies in Paris. He served as the first conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra...
made up the Adamowski Trio. Helenka's mother was also the sister of Helena (Helene), the second wife of Polish pianist and diplomat Ignacy Paderewski.
Life and career
After touring Europe and the United States her parents settled in Brookline, MassachusettsBrookline, Massachusetts
Brookline is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, which borders on the cities of Boston and Newton. As of the 2010 census, the population of the town was 58,732.-Etymology:...
, where she was born. She attended Miss Winsor's School in Boston. She studied dramatics and appeared in plays presented by the Junior League and the Vincent Club. "In 1917, on the occasion of Paderewski's presence in Boston in connection with aid for war victims, she appeared in a specially written play entitled: "The Spirit of Poland," which was given at Jordan Hall in Boston". In the 1920s, she appeared in silent film
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
s as well as on Broadway. She subsequently became head of the Children's Theatre Department of the Junior League
Junior League
The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. is a non-profit organization of 292 Junior Leagues in Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom and the United States. Junior Leagues are educational and charitable women's organizations aimed at improving their communities through volunteerism and...
of New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
She married Guido Pantaleoni, Jr., in 1935. Guido, a New York lawyer, was a widower with three children (Guido, Nina, and Hewitt). He was a graduate of Milton Academy
Milton Academy
Milton Academy is a coeducational, independent preparatory, boarding and day school in Milton, Massachusetts consisting of a grade 9–12 Upper School and a grade K–8 Lower School. Boarding is offered starting in 9th grade...
, Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
(1921), and Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
. Guido was a nephew of Italian economist and politician Maffeo Pantaleoni
Maffeo Pantaleoni
Maffeo Pantaleoni was an Italian economist, and a notable proponent of neoclassical economics. He was occasionally referred to as "the Marshall of Italy", because of his unrelenting defence of laissez-faire economic policies....
. He and Helenka had two children, Anthony and Michael Pantaleoni. Guido volunteered for service during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. As a Lieutenant Colonel attached to the Office of Strategic Services
Office of Strategic Services
The Office of Strategic Services was a United States intelligence agency formed during World War II. It was the wartime intelligence agency, and it was a predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency...
he was killed in action in Sicily in 1943, leaving Helenka with five children to raise.
Helenka Pantaleoni founded the Paderewsi Fund for Polish Relief in 1941. She served the fundraising arm of the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
during World War II. After the war, she continued to serve in fundraising for the Polish Relief Commission. "Her work with the United Nations commenced when she was made accredited observer for the National Council of Women of the U.S.A. in 1946. She helped found the Women United for United Nations...."
She helped to found the U.S. Fund for UNICEF
U.S. Fund for UNICEF
The United States Fund for UNICEF is the United States non-profit non-governmental organization that supports the United Nations Children's Fund . Founded in 1947 by Helenka Pantaleoni, it is the oldest of the 36 UNICEF National Committees that support UNICEF worldwide through fundraising,...
in 1947, and served as the organization’s president from 1953 until her retirement in 1978. Her service as president of the U.S. Committee for UNICEF was unpaid. The Executive Director of UNICEF, James P. Grant
James P. Grant
James P. "Jim" Grant was an American statesman and children's advocate. Grant served for 15 years as the third executive director of the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund , with the rank of Under Secretary-General,Grant was born in Beijing as a Canadian citizen...
, wrote in 1994:
For 26 years, from 1953 through 1978, Helenka Pantaleoni served as volunteer president of the U.S. Committee. While she headed the Committee more than $113 million was turned over to UNICEF in the name of the American people. . . .
Personal information
Helenka was the sister of Tadeusz AdamowskiTadeusz Adamowski
Tadeusz "Ralf" Adamowski was a Polish-American ice hockey player who competed in the 1928 Winter Olympics, and a supporter and popularizer of the sport in early twentieth century Poland.-Early life:...
, who played for the Polish national hockey team in the 1928 Olympics. Helenka's stepson Hewitt Pantaleoni
Hewitt Pantaleoni
Hewitt Pantaleoni was a twentieth-century ethnomusicologist, best known for his work on African music. Trained in musicology at Harvard University , he completed his doctoral research on West African drumming in Ghana and received his Ph.D. from Wesleyan University...
was a professor and ethnomusicologist. Helenka’s granddaughter is American actress Téa Leoni
Téa Leoni
Elizabeth Téa Pantaleoni , better known by her stage name Téa Leoni, is an American actress. She has starred in a wide range of films including Jurassic Park III, The Family Man, Deep Impact, Fun with Dick and Jane, Spanglish, Bad Boys, and Ghost Town.-Early life:Leoni was born in New York City...
, who has served as a Goodwill ambassador for UNICEF since 2001 and is also a member of the Board of Directors of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. Her father (Helenka Pantaleoni's son) Anthony Pantaleoni is Chair of the Board of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF and Of Counsel to Fulbright & Jaworski
Fulbright & Jaworski
The international law firm of Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. is one of the largest law firms in the United States with nearly 1,000 attorneys in over 50 practice areas. The firm was founded in Houston in 1919 by R. C. Fulbright, an attorney working in railway regulation, and J.H. Crooker, a litigator...
, the successor of the New York City law firm that his father Guido had founded in 1935.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1923 | “Second Fiddle Second Fiddle Second Fiddle is a term that refers to something that plays a secondary role in support of something that plays a more major or leading role.Second Fiddle may also refer to:* Second Fiddle * Second Fiddle... ” |
Cragg’s Daughter | |
| 1924 | “Grit Grit Grit may refer to:* GRIT , also known as Arhgap32 or PX-RICS* Grit , a U.S. periodical founded as a newspaper in 1882* Grit , by Celtic fusion musician Martyn Bennett* Grit , by Norwegian rock band Madrugada... ” |
Annie Hart | |
Honors
- 1966: Awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Wheaton College (Massachusetts).
- 1975: Awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Smith College.
- 2007: UNICEF inaugurated an annual Helenka Pantaleoni Award for humanitarian service.
Biographical work
- Helenka Adamowska Pantaleoni, In Her Own Words, New York: U.S. Committee for UNICEF, 1994.
- Jan Pirkey, A Gift from the Heart: Profile of Helenka Adamowska Pantaleoni, American Volunteer and Founding Spirit of UNICEF. Franktown, Colorado: JP Enterprises, 1986. ISBN 0-9617147-0-0.