One family whose roots trace back in Haddonfield’s history has donated a symbol that will live on in the borough for decades, as well as honoring the memory of a sister who perished in a terroristic attack during the holiday season.
The Maslowski family of Haddonfield donated funds to the borough this year for the planting of a new holiday tree at library point during the holiday season. Sue Maslowski, owner of Jay West Bridal on Kings Highway, said the family donated money to the borough to honor her sister who died on Dec. 21, 1988, when Pan Am Flight 103 was destroyed by a terroristic bombing as it flew from London to New York City.
All 243 passengers and 16 crewmembers aboard the flight were killed. Diane Maslowski was returning to Haddonfield for the Christmas holiday from her home in London, Sue said. Diane was a longtime resident of Haddonfield and a member of the class of 1976 at Haddonfield Memorial High School.
The Maslowski family was on hand for the borough’s tree lighting ceremony on Friday, Nov. 25. Sue’s nephew, who is five-years-old, had the honors of turning the holiday lights on for the tree. The tree lighting ceremony officially opens the holiday season for Haddonfield each year.
A plaque in memory of Diane will be affixed in front of the tree in her honor, Sue said. It reads, “In loving memory of Diane Maslowski, HMHS class of 1976, perished in an act of terrorism Pan Am flight 103, Dec. 21, 1988.”
Sue said the family contacted the borough last year to ask if they could donate money for a new holiday tree at library point. The old tree had to be removed because of the amount of construction along the two streets and the damage it had sustained to its root system from the pipes underneath the tree.
This year, Sue said Mayor Tish Colombi contacted her and asked if the offer was still on the table. Of course, the family jumped at the opportunity to remember the deceased member of their family.
“It’s in such a nice, prominent part of town. When I saw what was planned I got a tear in my eye. I said to myself, ‘Dianne you really would have loved this tree.’ She always came home to Haddonfield for Christmas, this was her home. It’s nice to have this sense of community here,” she said. “It’s nice to have something this wonderful come out of something that was so horrible.”
