Augustine L. “Duke” Labaczewski

Biography

A Pesach aboard the Hatikvah — recalled by Murray Greenfield

Maybe I missed it, but Duke — who was the cook and ready to do everything a seaman should do — was a crew member of the Hatikvah. Duke spoke Yiddish, which he had learned working in a bakery owned by a Jewish couple, immigrants from Europe. He had served in the Merchant Marine. On board the Hatikvah (the Tradewinds) he was not only chief cook and bottle-washer but filled every job except Captain.

One of the more memorable moments was when he pointed out to the Captain that it was the holiday of Pesach and that we should have a party. The problem was that we could not let the Portuguese know we were a Jewish ship on a mission — so Duke told everyone it would be the Captain’s birthday party. The barrels of wine were brought on board, he made some fake matzohs, and we sang songs from the album Six Songs for Democracy. It was a never-to-be-forgotten Pesach.

— Murray Greenfield