Fun Stuff
21 years old – Had a Jawa moped in Prague Not actual image.
22 years old – Had a 1963 KTM Ponny II moped in Vienna.

Not actual image. Just like this, same color
33 years old – Bought a new Jawa 350 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Not actual image.
71 years old – Got a motorcycle license in California and bought a new 2015 Harley Street 750.
72 years old – Bought a new 2016 Harley Dyna Low Rider.
75 years old – Had lots of fun riding the Harley, but decided it was time to stop.

This is a new website, under construction. I will start to add pictures and write Stories from my life, as time allows.

Background

I am Marian Pliczka. I was born in 1943 in Prague, Czechoslovakia, in the middle of World War II.

My father was born in 1895, my mother in 1906. They could have been my grandparents. My father fought in World War I on the Russian front and remained a devoted Czechoslovak patriot all his life. During World War II, he was one of the leaders of the Czech resistance against the Germans. After the war, the communists considered him dangerous, just like the Nazis had. Twice, they put him in prison, destroying his health and ruining him financially.

Shortly after I was born, my mother, sister, and I joined my father in Bohdalov, Moravia, where he was involved in the resistance. After the war ended in May 1945, life was good for a time. My father held a prominent position in the Czech government, and we were financially comfortable. He even socialized with aristocrats, enjoying hunting and the privileges that came with his status. But in 1948, everything changed when the communists seized power.

My father was arrested and spent three years in prison. When he came home, he was sick and broken. He was assigned a job as a machinist’s helper—the Communist regime gave skilled professionals menial jobs while promoting unqualified workers to management. Then, in 1960, they arrested him again, this time for 2½ years. He never recovered. He died in April 1965.

After his death, I knew I had to leave. In October 1965, I managed to leave from behind the Iron Curtain to Austria, where I was granted political asylum. One year later, in October 1966, I immigrated to the United States.

In 1968, during the Prague Spring, my sister was able to visit me in Boston. But while she was here, the Soviet Union invaded Czechoslovakia. The borders tightened again, but we were lucky—we managed to get my mother to visit before it was too late. In time, both she and my sister were able to stay permanently and became U.S. citizens.

My mother passed away in 1998. After that, my job moved me and my family—my third wife, son, and daughter—to the Sacramento area. My sister, my closest connection to my past, passed away in 2020.

I now live in Roseville, California, reflecting on a life shaped by war, resistance, exile, and survival. No matter how difficult the journey became, I never gave up. As a young man, I sometimes fell short of my father’s expectations, and he would say that others will judge me as the ‘Little son of a Big father.’ Night before he died, I told him I will escape from Czechoslovakia and he made me promise to take care of my mother and sister as needed regardless where I will end up. I did.

Mastered several professions. 'Ferda Mravenec - Práce všeho druhu (Ondřej Sekora)'

1960 – Graduated from high school but was not allowed to attend university due to father's political background.

1960-1962 – Studied at an Electronic Technician trade school, specializing in the Automation of Railway Transportation.

1962-1964 – Completed compulsory two-year service in the Czechoslovakian Army. Served as the only Electronic Technician in a tank division, responsible for maintaining all communication equipment.

1964-1965 – Worked as an Electronic Technician, then Assistant Engineer, before becoming a Tram Conductor in Prague (a role that increased the chances of being allowed on a bus trip to Austria by secret police).

1966 – Washed cars in Vienna, 12 hours a day, 6 days a week.

November 1966 – Worked as a dishwasher near Harvard Square.

December 1966 - Mid 1967 – Unpacked boxes until learning enough English to get a position as Electronic Technician at KLH.

1967-1968 – Worked at Honeywell, testing and debugging mini-computers. Took full time at night classes at Northeastern University, Lincoln College.

1968-1970 – Attended MIT full-time, studying Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

1970-1976 – Owned a gas station and auto repair shop, becoming a skilled auto mechanic, manager, and bookkeeper.

1976-1978 – I have worked as an Application and System Programmer at Modcomp, Digital, and Arthur D. Little Systems. In addition, I pursued continuous learning by attending numerous nighttime computer science classes at Boston University and Framingham State College.

1978-2002 – NEC Corporation:

  • Began as a System Programmer for NEC mini-computers.
  • Advanced to Staff Engineer, resolving major hardware and software issues.
  • Became Manager of Hardware and Software Compatibility Testing for NEC Personal Computers (Servers, Desktops, and Notebooks).
  • Promoted to Director of Engineering, responsible for notebook quality, compatibility with IBM PC products, Microsoft certifications, networking certifications, and worldwide support of NEC personal computers in English-speaking countries.
  • Managed over 100 development and test engineers with a budget exceeding $10M.
  • I stay up to date with the latest advancements in computer technology and have completed numerous management courses, including an intensive three-week live-in management program for international executives at NEC in Japan.

2002 – Laid off. Despite prior assurances of employment until retirement if willing to relocate, NEC Corporation’s General Manager and Vice President did not honor this commitment—so much for Japanese "honor."

Downsized, moved to a smaller house, and adapted.

2002 - ~2020 – Owned and operated a swimming pool maintenance business.

2020 - Present – Retired, assisting my son part-time with the swimming pool maintenance business.

No regrets about anything!

Cancer Survival

2010 – Diagnosed with kidney cancer and separate bladder cancer simultaneously. The affected kidney was removed, and the bladder cancer was successfully treated.

2011-2012 – Bladder tumors recurred but were removed and treated both times. Bladder cancer has not returned since.

End of 2021 – Diagnosed with Stage 4 kidney cancer that had spread to the lungs—an unusual occurrence after so many years. Given a prognosis of approximately three years with treatment, or one year without.

End of 2021 - January 2025 – Underwent immunotherapy, leading to a near-complete disappearance of the cancer.

January 2025 – The immune system began attacking my healthy liver as a side effect of treatment. Immunotherapy was suspended, and liver is now healing with steroids.

I must say, I am very lucky.

Feeling great, experiencing minimal side effects, and deeply grateful for my life, my wife, my kids, and my grandkids.