I have continued to do additional research about the
family name, Vlach. While I have not found any thing
regarding links my family heritage, I have discovered a
tapestry of info regarding the Vlach name and
it's relationship to the gypsy culture.
To those with the Vlach name, as I have read about the
Vlach history in Europe, flashes of memory would
come to me. An example is that according to what I have
read, the Vlach Gypsies of Bohemia were
supposed to be performers and musicians. My
grandmother (I'm 58) would tell me when I was a very
young boy that her family was very artistic.
I remember her reminding me that if ever
anybody said anything about the Vlach
name, I was supposed to tell them that I
was a Czech Vlach! Very odd to a young boy
to hear such a thing but as I am learning
more, some of the pieces of the family
puzzle is starting to fit together.
I am still looking for my mom's family
so once again, my Grandfather's name
was James Vlach and he lived in
Cicero, Illinois. He had a brother
named Frank (also from Cicero). My
grandmother's name was Mary. Frank's
wife was known as "Toni" They live for
a time around 27th and East avenue in
Berwyn, Ill.
My grandfather owned a house at 1934
60th in Cicero which he built in
the mid to late 1920's.
Bruce Beckman
Downers Grove, Il
bruce@ameritech.net