July 17, 2020
John Elcik – Beth, Thank you for helping me! I just told Jack that his Maine Maritime Acadamy photo was taken during the time I thought he looked like Ben Gazzara (it may also have been the voice.) More recently, a picture of him with you looks like a young Gene Hackman. And you, yourself, are extremely photogenic today. Here is a family picture from several years ago. We need to have a more recent one commissioned. J.P. is a teacher and getting married soon to Ana, also a teacher. Michelle is a Pharmacy Tech at Walgreens. Pam and I are enjoying retirement.
I never knew I was married to a celebrity!!!! I have a Gamache family tree on Ancestry, which includes Elcik and Byras. Byras was Gertrude’s mother’s maiden name. I will share what I have with you on Ancestry. I have some missing links on the Elcik family, but you may help me with that. Jack isn’t on Ancestry and isn’t interested, but I AM!! Hopefully, we can help each other with all this family “stuff.”
John Elcik – My pleasure! I asked Jack three questions, and he was helped with one already. It is a sad fact that with Elcik’s, the trail is complicated. The name is variously spelled Elcik, Elick, Elsik, or Ilcik. Ouch! Plus, everybody loved the names Andrew, James, John, Joseph, and Paul. To further complicate everything, two Elcik families immigrated to America (and Lisbon Falls, Maine) 15 years apart, and I have yet to establish a link between them. I do believe one exists. I can do five generations but not the sixth. Finally, Mary or Marie is the most popular name for the wives, and getting the right wife and husband combination has been a struggle. Only Mary Byrus is known for sure. And she has been recorded as Mary Burns. Spelling. Grrr.
Beth Purinton Gamache – You’re absolutely right about the spelling of last names. I struggle with that not only with Jack’s family but mine. I’ve been doing this for 3 years and am just now figuring some of this out. Bringing the Byras/Byrus family name into Jack’s family’s mix further complicates it for me. That puts you in the same category as me. Unfortunately, Jack isn’t interested in any of this, but I’m hooked. What is your name on Ancestry? I want to be sure to share the Gamache family tree with the right person.
John Elcik – Beth Purinton Gamache, the address is jelcik@identityxperts.com as the other site is very old and soon to be deleted. Give me a week more, and I will be ready to share. My new site is called MyCousins with a matching website. The old site was called Cousins and used a different email address. 
Beth Purinton Gamache – John Elcik, I still have more work to do on the Byras/Elcik family. I combined those families with the Gamache’s. My email address for Ancestry is jbgam2@gmail.com. I will share the Gamache family with you. Are you on Ancestry???
John Elcik – Yes. And with your email, I can and will send you an invitation.
John Elcik – Invite has been sent. Enjoy!
Beth Purinton Gamache – Thank you!