Blanka Regina Schelest, verh. Stanley, verh. Fleming

Blanka Regina SCHELEST (divorced STANLEY, married FLEMING), born on August 6^th, 1915 in Vienna/Austro-Hungarian Empire [Austria] (entitled residency ("heimatberechtigt") for Vienna, citizenship 1938: Austria), daughter of Nieson/Norbert Schelest (accountant, 1883-1947) and Sofie, née Medwied (1886-1951, lived in Vienna's 20^th disctrict, Dammstrasse 18. She had passed the school-leaving examination (Reifepruefung/Matura) at the Bundesrealgymnasium in Vienna's 20^th disctrict on June 14^th, 1934, and subsequently began studying at the University of Vienna from the fall term of 1934/35. She was last enrolled at the School of Philosophy in the 4^th year of her studies in fall term of 1937/38 and attended lectures in Romance languages and literature Studies and History.

She had already registered for the final examinations ("Rigorosen") on December 20^th, 1937, but she was forced for racist reasons to discontinue her studies, the examination procedure was interupted and she had to leave the University of Vienna without a degree.

Blanka Regina Schelest had to flee Vienna and together with her parents and sister was able to escape to Great Britain in time on April 11^th, 1939, where they lived first at 3 Marlborough Rd, Cardiff, Glamorganshire, Wales, and later in Aberdare, Glamorgan, Wales.
Her sister Dr. Adele Schelest, née Czaczkes [Carter] (1907-2002) - she had married Dr. med. Max Alfred Czaczkes [Carter] (1896-1981) in Vienna on April 12^th, 1938, who had received his doctorate in medicine from the University of Vienna on June 28^th, 1937 - emigrated with her husband as early as March 4^th, 1940, on to the USA where she arrived with the SS Scythia in New York City, NY, on March 4^th, 1940, and was able to work as a high school teacher. She became a U. S. citizen as Adele Carter on May 17^th, 1945.

After the end of World War II, Blanka Regina Schelest and her parents were then able to emigrate on to join her in the U. S., arriving in New York City on May 24^th, 1945, where they lived and worked from then on. Her father died in January 1947 and her mother in June 1951 in Queens, New York City, NY. On June 2^nd, 1950, Blanka Regina Schelest married the Viennese lawyer Dr. jur. Rudolph R. Stanley, née Sternlieb (1902-1980, emigrated from Vienna via Antwerp to New York in 1939 and since 1945 U. S. citizen) and as Blanka R. Stanley she became a U. S. citizen on January 9^th, 1951; for the time being they continued to live with her sister and brother-in-law at 43-08 40^th street Long Island City, Queens, New York City, NY, but the marriage was divorced in 1956.

In 1959 she married Paul M. Fleming (1906-1987) and then lived at 11104, Long Island City, Queens, New York City, NY/USA.

Blanka R. Fleming, née Schelest, divorced Stanley, died December 19^th, 1995, in Queens, New York City, NY/USA, and is buried in Maple Grove Cemetery in Kew Gardens there.

Lit.: Archive of the University of Vienna/enrollment forms ("Nationale") PHIL 1937-1938, final examination files and registry (Rigorosenakt und -protokoll") PHIL 14079; Austrian State Archives OeStA / AdR / E-uReang / VVSt / VA 34117; POSCH/INGRISCH/DRESSEL 2008, 466; www.genteam.at; www.ancestry.de; information courtsey of Dr. Barbara Sauer, Vienna 11/2021.

Herbert Posch