NY NY - Sylvia Lwowski, 22, Staten Island, 6 Sept 1975 - #4

[rosemadderlake]

Wow. Thanks for posting the link. I had no idea that people applying for naturalization are fingerprinted! Was this the case in 1962 as well??? Nothing seems impossible "post" 911 but really, were they doing this in 1962 when children travelled on their Mother's passports and there were limited checks of all sorts?

Fingerprinting children in the 60's…Really?

Bbm: I don't know if they are, or were in the '60's. My impression is it is pretty official process with lots of paperwork. I can't think of any other reason why she would be fingerprinted...
-Could be possibly German passports? US Military connection? -Sylvia must have had to get her passport renewed for her Biology trip to Bermuda in 1973, too. She might have had a couple of passports.

Citizenship for Spouses and Children of Military Members
http://www.uscis.gov/military/citiz...zenship-spouses-and-children-military-members

 

[Pink Panther]

Rose - You are absolutely correct. I found this:

"New responsibilities led to the agency's rapid growth during World War II. The INS' war-related duties included: Recording and fingerprinting every alien in the United States through the Alien Registration Program…"

http://www.uscitizenship.info/ins-usimmigration-insoverview.html

 

[GoingByMyGut]

Original post trimmed by me.

I really don't think that the pool party incident was significant enough to make her want to run away (MOO).

At the very least, it goes to state of mind, IMO. With "depressed" on the PR and our knowledge of other events haunting her, it helps create a picture of someone possibly in turmoil, possibly contemplating change. It doesn't mean she ran away, but helps us understand who she was when she either walked away or walked into something that took her by surprise.

 

[epiphany]

Original post trimmed by me.


At the very least, it goes to state of mind, IMO. With "depressed" on the PR and our knowledge of other events haunting her, it helps create a picture of someone possibly in turmoil, possibly contemplating change. It doesn't mean she ran away, but helps us understand who she was when she either walked away or walked into something that took her by surprise.

Yes, several factors may contribute to Sylvia being described as "depressed" on the PR:

- I believe Sylvia had knowledge of MMQC's elopement plans since a PI was hired within a week or two of Sylvia's disappearance, and MMQC stated that she had already been looking for an apartment and furniture shopping during the time that the PI followed her. How would that contribute to any feelings of sadness/depression?

- Especially since MMQC stated that Sylvia & BF/F had no wedding plans, no date, no specifics and details as of September 1975. No idea as to what Sylvia planned to pursue re career, etc.

- MMQC described Sylvia as expressing feelings of sadness (due to melancholy over the Spring 1973 termination) as late as July 1975 when her niece was born.

- It may not be that her Father did a couple of acrobatic stunts at the pool party in front of her WC friends that embarrassed Sylvia. It may be the level of alcohol he had consumed that was the final straw at the pool party for Sylvia. IOW, it's one thing for those she confided in that Father loved his beer, but quite another for those who either had been unaware of such or had never observed a parent that tipsy before that made Sylvia feel extremely humiliated at the party.

Believe it or not, there must have been many at the pool party who had never observed a parent have one too many before. And rather than performing gymnastic maneuvers that embarrassed her and led to a kick, it was the broader issue that humiliated her and contributed to feelings of sadness or having had enough.

 

[Pink Panther]

Even if one attempts to wrap their head around the possibility that Sylvia "ran away" without her glasses, in possession of her purse, and nothing else…It bellies belief that her FIANCE at the time cut off all communication with her family and friends the very night she disappeared.

moo

 

[alliemay]

Even if one attempts to wrap their head around the possibility that Sylvia "ran away" without her glasses, in possession of her purse, and nothing else…It bellies belief that her FIANCE at the time cut off all communication with her family and friends the very night she disappeared.

You may have missed reading the BF/F stated, I think to MMQC that he was "duped". I'm not sure what this is supposed to mean or if it means anything at all, because none of us currently on here are aware of what the fight was about. I have a strong feeling though, that Sylvia's parents, her brother and MMQC knew what the fight was about. Maybe the reason why the later two won't tell us is because it is painful and private, but I think would help putting the pieces together if we knew what the fight was about. I know this sounds superficial, but sometimes couples do not match up. I feel Sylvia was much more attractive than her BF/F, and given the fact that she could turn "heads" or "make men melt" (MMQC words), I have to wonder if there wasn't someone else in the picture that made her head turn in another direction.

 

[rosemadderlake]

Even if one attempts to wrap their head around the possibility that Sylvia "ran away" without her glasses, in possession of her purse, and nothing else…It bellies belief that her FIANCE at the time cut off all communication with her family and friends the very night she disappeared.

moo

We don’t really know what happened. (imo) SL’s brother describes him (BFF) as rude and hostile. Shortly after she went missing - he would not answer any more of the family’s Qs.

We have no idea what the argument was about and are told by Sylvia’s best friend there was no indication of a breakup beforehand. She felt certain Sylvia would confide that to her. -Though she did indicate in a post speculating that wedding plans could be a reason for the argument.

I have wondered about the parents of these two. Was there no communication? And what about in the years that went by afterwards? Parents feel the weight of a loss, their child, and someone else’s child in a collective way through their experiences as parents. I can’t believe that this wasn’t devastating for his parents (any parent) on some level.

SL & her BFF were engaged for what, 9 months, a year? -Going through with all the motions; ring, beautiful pictures of her, engagement announcement, and party. -And, then no wedding plans? What? No known future plans? -Some get married only to escape their own family (s). Was that the case here? These two were young, 22 & 25.

The theory that BFF kills Sylvia, covers up the crime, and misleads everyone on that night is absolutely possible, but I wonder where the piece that would really point it in that direction is? -The glasses thrown against the dash? No one seems to know where they are or if they were her sunglasses, or reading glasses. Was that a foil for murder? -The argument? No one is saying. What happened in the years afterwards? Sylvia’s best friend hears the BFF has the engagement ring through an acquaintance. Did LE follow up on that?

When I look at the all the pieces that Epiphany brought together in her post above – I think there is much that is known but unspoken. The tipping point for one person may be like water off a duck for another. But when I look at those pieces I can see how her mother might have felt she ran away – because she knew the deeper reasons and could see “the whole person” that was her daughter.

Sylvia disappeared in the place she grew up and went to college. And, a 20 minute boat ride away from NYC. I think Sylvia knew she was smart, knew she had talent, but also Sylvia was a stunning woman who may have been tapping into that awareness, or could have been completely blind to it. With all the possible connections around her, the logistics of making a phone call that night with just her purse in her possession is not hard to fathom. But if she did chart that course the deeper reasons for leaving are very difficult to know. (imo) .

 

[rosemadderlake]

Sylvia Lwowski Media Plan 2014

General Press
Staten Island Advance
SL article 2013: http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/09/38_years_on_brother_of_staten.html
Tracey Porpora, Author SI Advance article 2013: http://traceyporpora.com/contact-2/
Newsroom Contacts: http://www.statenislandadvance.com/news.html

Wagner College
Wagner Magazine, Alumni Class Notes: http://wagner.edu/wagnermagazine/?cat=11
Wagner Magazine, Newsroom: http://wagner.edu/newsroom/
The Wagnerian, (see Editorial Staff listing): http://wagner.edu/english/the-wagnerian/

Tottenville High School
Tottenville HS Alumni: http://tottenvillehighschoolalumni.c...a-lwowski.html
The Trumpet, Alumni Junction, Staff & Class Directory: http://www.wernerf.com/article/staff.htm



Note: working publicity plan. Contact listings & 3 PDFs attached for SL’s family (or a private citizen’s) use. Photo format & files are available. Edits, corrections, additions, etc. are welcome.

 

[Odyssey]

I'd also consider adding Mary Murphy Mysteries from Pix11 to the list of media contacts. They seem to specialize in missing persons & such.

Here is the piece they did on Elizabeth Bump and Anna Marie Scivetti
http://pix11.com/2014/04/01/pix11-tracks-down-the-man-linked-to-2-missing-staten-island-women/

Their contact email: marymurphymystery at pix11.com

 

[rosemadderlake]

With a good cover letter / background, there is a human interest, MP awareness, & Cold Case awareness story that could be presented to the New York Times. (imo)

NY Times Newsroom: http://www.nytimes.com/content/help/contact/directory.html#paper

 

[rosemadderlake]

-Any article, any interview, any television, is not in our realm, but the Vis. The 2013 Staten Island article was über conservative. I wonder why.

With the NY-times, I see Sylvia as a part of a “larger picture” story – I’ve thought that since thread #1.
-Maybe next year, a winter’s article.

I look at her Classmates page with nothing but a sideways photo and wrong year, or the other photos, except NamUs, and feel Sylvia is missing from there, too. It doesn’t do her justice. For now, I'd like to see the memorable photos of her out there where she can be found. And remind the world she is still missing. –Imo.

 

[Jmoose]

-Any article, any interview, any television, is not in our realm, but the Vis. The 2013 Staten Island article was über conservative. I wonder why.

With the NY-times, I see Sylvia as a part of a “larger picture” story – I’ve thought that since thread #1.
-Maybe next year, a winter’s article.

I look at her Classmates page with nothing but a sideways photo and wrong year, or the other photos, except NamUs, and feel Sylvia is missing from there, too. It doesn’t do her justice. For now, I'd like to see the memorable photos of her out there where she can be found. And remind the world she is still missing. –Imo.

I think that the writer spoke to the police-or maybe even BF/F; and was told under NO circumstances was she to allude to him as the one who knows what happened (and maybe he doesn't; maybe he is just an ill-mannered, boorish meat head for letting her jump out of the car and not trying to follow her immediately). At the very best, he is a big jerk that nobody in Sylvia's immediate circle liked. Doesn't make him a killer, though. I do wonder why he won't volunteer what he knows...after all, he can say anything at this point, true or not, because after nearly 40 years, no body has ever been found, and no one's even interested in investigating him or anyone else. If he has no clue what happened to her, he can at least tell what the argument was about, and whether or not he got the ring back. Why wouldn't he do that instead of just saying that she threw her glasses at the dash while they argued? He wasn't in her league, appearance-wise, so unless he was extraordinarily self confident, he had to have had some (or many) jealous moments. He could not possibly still be angry with her, so...why not assist where he can?

 

[Odyssey]

I think that the writer spoke to the police-or maybe even BF/F; and was told under NO circumstances was she to allude to him as the one who knows what happened (and maybe he doesn't; maybe he is just an ill-mannered, boorish meat head for letting her jump out of the car and not trying to follow her immediately). At the very best, he is a big jerk that nobody in Sylvia's immediate circle liked. Doesn't make him a killer, though. I do wonder why he won't volunteer what he knows...after all, he can say anything at this point, true or not, because after nearly 40 years, no body has ever been found, and no one's even interested in investigating him or anyone else. If he has no clue what happened to her, he can at least tell what the argument was about, and whether or not he got the ring back. Why wouldn't he do that instead of just saying that she threw her glasses at the dash while they argued? He wasn't in her league, appearance-wise, so unless he was extraordinarily self confident, he had to have had some (or many) jealous moments. He could not possibly still be angry with her, so...why not assist where he can?

BBM: This really annoyed me for a couple reasons. To be honest, I didn't expect that they would allude to him being responsible (nor do I think they should have), but the fact that they said she was with an acquaintance, imo, made her look really bad. All it would take is for a reader to do a really quick google search and say "Wow, this reporter couldn't even find what it took me 30 seconds to find." Plus, the 'acquaintance' thing is incorrect information, no better or worse to me than those who erroneously stated that the glasses were broken.

 

[Jmoose]

BBM: This really annoyed me for a couple reasons. To be honest, I didn't expect that they would allude to him being responsible (nor do I think they should have), but the fact that they said she was with an acquaintance, imo, made her look really bad. All it would take is for a reader to do a really quick google search and say "Wow, this reporter couldn't even find what it took me 30 seconds to find." Plus, the 'acquaintance' thing is incorrect information, no better or worse to me than those who erroneously stated that the glasses were broken.

I am glad that the article was written at all; but, like all of us, I wonder why BF/F was referred to as an "acquaintance". She (the writer) must have had a good reason for doing so, though, as you said, anybody with a tiny bit of initiative would quickly discover that Sylvia was, in fact, with her fiance when she disappeared, and not with a casual friend. The only thing I can think of is that she was asked not to make much of this particular part of the story. It was upsetting for our VIs, because that information was omitted, and it's one of the only things that we know for certain in this story-that she was on a date with her fiance when she disappeared. It is amazing to me that BF/F is so indifferent, and has been so, for 39 years. Who stays pissed off for so long-especially in the face of a disappearance without a trace?

 

[alliemay]

I wonder if the reporter asked our VI's if they had any recall of what the fight was about.

 

[Jmoose]

I wonder if the reporter asked our VI's if they had any recall of what the fight was about.

I wondered that myself

 

[GoingByMyGut]

BBM: This really annoyed me for a couple reasons. To be honest, I didn't expect that they would allude to him being responsible (nor do I think they should have), but the fact that they said she was with an acquaintance, imo, made her look really bad. All it would take is for a reader to do a really quick google search and say "Wow, this reporter couldn't even find what it took me 30 seconds to find." Plus, the 'acquaintance' thing is incorrect information, no better or worse to me than those who erroneously stated that the glasses were broken.

It was really unusual. Even "friend" would have been better, or "date."

 

[rosemadderlake]

I have a feeling the SI Advance journalist did take a look online and in less than 30 seconds found a whole lot of boilerplate crime drama targeted speculation surrounding her disappearance. -Didn’t take long to make the “back story” known in the comments section either.

Without a named POI, ‘friend’ may have been more correct than “acquaintance” and with no publicity by anyone for 38 years it seems this was the first time any official statement was made publicly. I did not think it made Sylvia look bad at all. But what they left out was telling. If anything, it implied there’s no evidence to open her case, or evidence was produced that backs up the story. -Imo.

The statement made by the DA’s office, “According to a spokesman for District Attorney Daniel Donovan, there was never an investigation by the office at the time of her disappearance "because it was classified as a missing persons case” made LE and (the system) look questionable, (pass the buck, different department), but that is nothing new. And I guess the Assistant DA who was asked to get involved in 1975 was unsuccessful because she was classed as a runaway?

I don’t think the BFF was contacted, nor do I think her brother or girlfriend was asked about the argument by the press. Imo.

In retrospect, had the article stated her name in the headline, and used a more recognizable photograph, it might have been read ‘tuned into’ by more people –drawn to something familiar. The headline could have read: “38 years on, brother of Sylvia Lwowski, Staten Islander who vanished seeks resolution”.

I think this is a huge challenge in the media to grab the reader’s attention–because now we are flooded with news, whereas back in the day people read a couple of newspapers cover to cover.

 

[Odyssey]

I have a feeling the SI Advance journalist did take a look online and in less than 30 seconds found a whole lot of boilerplate crime drama targeted speculation surrounding her disappearance. -Didn’t take long to make the “back story” known in the comments section either.

Without a named POI, ‘friend’ may have been more correct than “acquaintance” and with no publicity by anyone for 38 years it seems this was the first time any official statement was made publicly. I did not think it made Sylvia look bad at all. But what they left out was telling. If anything, it implied there’s no evidence to open her case, or evidence was produced that backs up the story. -Imo.

The statement made by the DA’s office, “According to a spokesman for District Attorney Daniel Donovan, there was never an investigation by the office at the time of her disappearance "because it was classified as a missing persons case” made LE and (the system) look questionable, (pass the buck, different department), but that is nothing new. And I guess the Assistant DA who was asked to get involved in 1975 was unsuccessful because she was classed as a runaway?

I don’t think the BFF was contacted, nor do I think her brother or girlfriend was asked about the argument by the press. Imo.

In retrospect, had the article stated her name in the headline, and used a more recognizable photograph, it might have been read ‘tuned into’ by more people –drawn to something familiar. The headline could have read: “38 years on, brother of Sylvia Lwowski, Staten Islander who vanished seeks resolution”.

I think this is a huge challenge in the media to grab the reader’s attention–because now we are flooded with news, whereas back in the day people read a couple of newspapers cover to cover.

BBM: I'm not sure if that was in reference to me saying I thought it made her look bad... but just to clarify, I meant that it made the reporter look bad, as in very incompetent.

 

[rosemadderlake]

BBM: I'm not sure if that was in reference to me saying I thought it made her look bad... but just to clarify, I meant that it made the reporter look bad, as in very incompetent.

Bbm: I think the reporter's choice of words was purposeful. -Not incompetent.