The history of my Croatian lineage is very particular since both my paternal and maternal grandparents were Croatians, even more peculiar since they were born in the same town.
It was the year 1938 when my paternal grandparents MARKO SARDELIĆ BRNARDO and KATA MARINOVIĆ SALATA, natives of Blato on the island of Korčula, made the decision to emigrate to Argentina in search of opportunities for a better quality of life.
Already married in their native country, they traveled together to Argentina, arriving by boat at the port of Buenos Aires. They stayed briefly at the Immigrants’ hotel and then they traveled to the capital city of Santa Fe. They had 3 children there: MARCOS my uncle, MAXIMO my father born on July 6, 1935, and SUSANA SARDELIC my aunt.
My maternal grandparents PEDRO GAVRANIĆ JAKAS and PAULINA CETINIĆ both born in BLATO, island of Korčula, already being a couple made the decision to emigrate to Argentina, escaping from Second World War in search of security and a good economic pass. They arrived by boat at the port of Buenos Aires and traveled to the capital city of Santa Fe. They formed their family there, having only one daughter MYRYAM CATALINA GAVRANIC JAKAS, my mother who was born on April 18, 1943.
Sixth from the left standing is my grandpa Pedro Gavranic
Fourth from the left in the middle is my Grandma Paulina
My father Maximo with his mother Kata
My Grandmother Kata and me
Me and my parents
Our last name Sardelić was changed and adapted into Spanish becoming Sardelic / Sardelich.
My grandparents left Croatia having nothing, only dreams, uncertainty and a great desire to progress to live peacefully in the land, at that time, of opportunities, economic stability and security.
They spent more than half of their lives in Argentina raising their family, economic stability and a promising future for their children. Until death all four were living in Santa Fe capital of the Province of Santa Fe.
My father Maximo Sardelich passed away on October 22, 2021 and my mother is currently 79.
In the year 1969 my parents MAXIMO SARDELICH and MYRIAM GAVRNIC JAKAS met and a year later they got married on September 25, 1970 and the fruit of that relationship is the person who is writing this beautiful story of my Croatian ancestors. My name is MAXIMO MARTIN IVAN SARDELICH and I am the only child. I am 37 years old, born in the city of Santa Fe on September 25, 1985.
The main reason for participating in this contest is to study in the country of my ancestors that I didn’t have the pleasure of knowing. My dream is to be able to take my 80-year-old mother to see the country of her parents, which is a dream that unfortunately is not currently possible.
I am grateful for this immense opportunity that ASPIRA University offers us.
MAXIMO MARTIN IVAN SARELICH