Fonds 20-023 - Doransky Family fonds

Ján Lud'o Doranský was born in Trstená, Orava (northern Slovakia, near the Tatra Mountains) on May 28, 1911. He was the third son of Vendelin Doranský, a bookbinder, and Anna, who owned a stationery store. He had two surviving siblings: Ondrej (Andrej), a priest who opposed the Communist regime, and his sister Ilona (Helena).

As a child and teenager, Ján was passionate about literature, poetry, and music. After high school, he enrolled in the music conservatory in Bratislava with aspirations of becoming an opera singer. However, his parents encouraged him to pursue a different path. He began studying law at the University of Bratislava, but after two years, he switched to notarial studies.

Ján L. Doranský held various positions in remote areas, including one in Ubla, where he met his future wife, Mary Jakl. During this time, he was drafted for compulsory military service. In February 1938, Ján and Mary were married at the Greek-Catholic Church in Ubla. The following year, World War II broke out, and the Hungarians annexed Eastern Slovakia, including Ubla. The Doranský family fled to Trstená and later moved to Bratislava, where Ján had a new assignment.

During the war, Mikulaš Gaček, a writer and friend of General Ferdinand Čatloš, approached Ján about helping to establish a Cultural Affairs Division within the Ministry of National Defense. Ján quickly assembled a group of artists, writers, photographers, and filmmakers, created an army press, and even produced a documentary. He also served on the Russian front. Ján’s experiences with the Slovak army during the war are detailed in the book From the Carpathians to the Caucasus. While in Bratislava, Ján and Mary had two children: Maria Anna (Mary) and Louis (Ľudovit, Ludo).

In 1945, fearing retribution from the advancing Red Army, the Doranský family fled Bratislava. After staying in Austria, Bavaria, Assisi, Rome (as guests of Karol Sidor at the Vatican), Naples, and Bremenhaven in Germany, the family finally arrived in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, on February 8, 1950. Over the next several years, both Ján and Mary held various jobs. Mary worked as a babysitter, button-maker, cleaner, lampshade stretcher, toy production worker, florist, and administrative assistant. Ján, on the other hand, worked as a refrigerator deliveryman, construction worker, guard, and assistant insurance broker.

In addition to these jobs, Ján was the producer and host of the CJMS radio show Voices of Canadian Slovaks, which aired every Friday.

In the early 1970s, Ján was diagnosed with cancer. He passed away on April 5, 1973. His funeral at St. Cyril and Methodius Church in Montreal was attended by many members of the Slovak community.

Mary Doranský (née Jakl) was born in Linden, New Jersey (United States) on November 25th, 1915. Her parents were Josef Jakl and Mary Pinter (daughter of František Pinter and Maria Vondras). She had 3 siblings: Karel (Charles), Emily and Joseph.

In 1921, the Jakl family travelled back to Czechoslovakia, where her mother decided to remain with the children. Her father returned to North America and remarried.
Mary attended the Komensky School and Teacher’s College. Following her studies, she held several teaching positions in Vienna and Eastern Slovakia, mostly Rusha Volova where she met her future husband Ján L. Doranský.

Ján L. Doranský and Mary Jakl married on February 5th, 1939. Following their wedding, they moved to Ján L. Doranský’s hometown of Trstená (Slovakia) and then Bratislava where he began organizing a Cultural Affairs Division within the Ministry of National Defence. During their stay in Bratislava, Mary Doranský gave birth to two children: Maria Anna (Mary) and Louis.

In 1945, fearing retaliation from the Red Army, the Doranský family fled Bratislava. After stays in Austria, Oberfeldkirchen (Bavaria), Assisi, Rome and Naples (Italy) and northern Germany, the Doranský family arrived in Montréal on February 9th, 1950. For the next years, Mary Doranský held several jobs as a button-maker, lampshade stretcher, cleaner, assistant florist and administrative assistant.

Following her husband’s death on April 5th, 1973, Mary Doranský moved to St. Vincent and Grenadine to be near her daughter Maria Anna (Mary) Barnard (née Doranský). In 1979, she moved to Toronto (Ontario) and lived in the Seneca Towers where she painted, babysat and looked after her grandchildren. On November 25th, 2015, Mary Doranský turned 100 years old. She passed away in 2018.

Louis (L’udovit L’udo), Ján and Mary Doranský’s son, was born in Bratislava in April 1943. After the family moved to Montréal, Québec in 1950, he attended St. Roch school. Louis Doranský earned his high school diploma at the Cardinal Newman High School and, in his second year, enrolled in the Army Cadets.In his spare time, Louis and friend Peter Sidor founded a rock band where Louis played the drums. His high school completed, he enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts program at the Sir William College in downtown Montréal.

In February 1963, Louis Doranský met his future wife, Sonia Canella. He also began working at the firm P.S. Ross and Partners, and afterwards, accepted a position at St. Vincent and Grenadine’s Aquatic Club. In 1966, he returned to Montréal (Canada) and married Sonia Canella. They have two daughters“ Stephanie and Christine. Following the birth of their children, Louis, Sonia, Stephanie and Christine Doranský moved to Toronto, Ontario (Canada).
In 1978, Louis Doranský became a senior consultant with the firm Touche Ross (later renamed Deloitte and Touche) and was given numerous international assignments. In 1990, he left Deloitte and Touche and founded his own firm Doransky and Association Inc. In his spare time, Louis Doranský collected objects from various countries he visited.
Louis Doranský has inherited his father’s and mother’s artistic talents. In addition to his love of music, he began painting in his early twenties. In 2013, his art works were part of an exhibition held at Toronto’s Gerrard Art Space.

Maria Anna (Mary) Barnard (née Doranský), Ján and Mary Doranský’s daughter, was born in November 1939. After the family arrived in Montreal in 1950, Maria Anna attended the St.Roch School along with her brother Louis. Maria Anna (Mary) earned her high school diploma at the Thomas d’Arcy McGee High School and afterwards studied teaching at McGill University's McDonald College, where she met her future husband Martin Barnard.

Maria Anna worked as a camp counsellor, folk dance teacher in Québec (Canada), physical education teacher at the Sacred Heart Convent in Ottawa (Ontario) and Marionpolis College. Maria Anna and Martin Barnard were married on April 28th, 1962. Following their wedding in Montreal, the Barnards moved to St. Vincent and Grenadine (West Indies) where Martin managed the Orange Hill Estates Limited plantations. They had four children: Denyse, Joanne, Leslie and Philip.

In the 1990s, the Barnards opened a travel agency, airline and yacht club. In July 2001, Martin Barnard became a Knight of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). The Barnards currently reside in St. Vincent and Grenadine.