American Serb History 101

Nikola Musulin, whom many in Pittsburgh, PA, USA only knew by his nickname of "Rasha," was an American Serb Immigrant to whom the Serbs owe a great deal of debt for his Leadership. 

The following information was obtained mainly from his obituary that appeared in the American SRBOBRAN on p.5,  date unknown. (@ Nov-Dec 1986).

He was one of my grandmother's (Andja Mamula's) best friends.  Upon finding his obituary in my "kufers," I decided that more should know of his great deeds and of his wonderful children.  

Serbian Orthodox Nikola Musulin was born on May 25, 1894 in Gormije, Yugoslavia (then part of the Militaire Frontier of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and now simply known as Croatia.  He immigrated to the United States in 1912.    At first he resided in Saginaw, Michigan with his sister, Milica Gv(w)osden.  Then he traveled to Lorain, Ohio, where he was employed at the National Tube Works.  In 1916, he moved to Pittsburgh, where he resided for the remainder of his years.    

During WWI, he served in the U.S. Army with C Company, 26th Infantry, 1st Division, and pariticpated in the Meuse-Argonn e Battle.  He was a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans, Great Pittsburgh Chapter No.8. 

Prior to and immediately following WWI, Nikola was employed and the Jones & Laughlin Steel Company (J&L), the A.M. Byers Company and the G eorge Westinghouse Company.  Then he moved to the City of Pittsburgh Water Department from which he retired in 1963.   He was a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 95.

But what makes Nikola so special?

Nikola Rasha Musulin was a rare and unique individual.  He was a man before his time, an idealist and a fighter, a dreamer and a doer!

1. Nikola was one of the founders and FIRST PRESIDENT of the St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church on Pittsburgh's South Side, 21st and Sidney Streets that later merged with the St. George Serbian Orthodox Church also on the South Side   and became the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Pittsburgh of which he was a member.
2. Nikola was most instrumental in acquiring the loan  of Hamilton Road in Castle Shannon which became the picnic grounds and St. Sava Cemetery (now called Holy Trinity St. Sava Cemetery).
3. Founder of Lodge #11. In 1916, Nikola joined the SNF as a member of Lodge No. #16, Kumanovo. He later joined St. Ilija Lodge No.#8. In 1917 he again became a member of Lodge No. 16, Kumanovio.  But to promote the growth of the SNF in 1933, he organized and founded Lodge No. 11, Vojvoda Stepa Stepanovich.  He was the FIRST PRESIDENT and retained that title until the time of his death.  He served as a delegate from this lodge to numerous SNF conventions.
4. Determined to promote the growth of Serbian activities, in 1953 Nikola arraged for the mortgage and initiated plans for the building of the American Serbian Club of Pittsburgh.  He served as FIRST PRESIDENT  and as a reward for his efforts, he was granted the title of Honorary President.
5. Nikola was also active in local and community affairs and under the leadership of the late Mayor David L. Lawrence served as the Democratic Committeeman in the 16th Ward, City of Pittsburgh.
6. With the help of his wife, Anna Ranick Musulin, he raised 4 sons and four daughters, all accomplished.

Son Dr. Michael Musulin Pharmacy Professor of Richmond, Virgina, once worked as a clerk in Karlo's Confectionery Store on 2508 E. Carson Street.

Son Rudy Musulin was the head coach at Westinghouse High School for many years.  N ikola was so pleased with the partiicpation of his son Rudy in SNF basketball and bowling tournaments.

Daughter Natalie Musulin Kunkle was a Principal and then Head Librarian of all Pittsburgh Area Schools.

Robert Musulin, of Huntington Beach, passed away on March 9, 2011, the youngest of eight children. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh and did graduate studies in Computer Science at Purdue. He served as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Funeral Services:  Nov.24, 1986.

Nikola was buried from Holy Trinity Cathedral in Whitehall, PA, suburb of Pittsburgh. Officiating were Rev. Dragan Filipovic, parish priest, V. Rev. Milan Savich of St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Schererville, Indiana, who delivered the eulogy for his former parishioner and late friend, the Rev. Milan Sturgis of the St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Masontown, PA, and Rev. Joseph Cervo. They were ably assisted by David Manko, grandson of the deceased and a Reader a the Holy Trinity Cathedral. 

The flag-draped  coffin was bourne by Jeff Kunkel and Wayne Musulin, grandsons, Larry Boone and Rick Locke, husbands of granddaughters, Milton and Stan Dudukovich, great nephews, and Alex Basara and Rudy Vaughn, Kumovi.

Eulogies were given by Kuma Eva Trbovich representing the American Serbian Club of Pittsburgh,   Water Ranick, a brother-in-law and friend, representing Lodge No. 11 of the SNF, and Robert Rade Stone, a friend and President of the SNF.   Taps were blown by grandson, Jeff Kunkel.

"Lots of money in this country" was his rallying cry for the Serbian people to build and preserve their traditions, culture and faith.

AMERICAN PATRIOT &  BELIEVER IN EDUCATION  

  Although he always remembered his beloved Gomirje, he was extremely patriotic to the United States and took pride when his four sons and one daughter (Mary-Mitzie--very smart nurse!) served with the U.S. Armed Forces.  

     He was a great believe in Education and was so proud of the almost fifty years of college education his eight children received.

     He left a legacy for his family, kumovi, friends and the Serbian community.  Vjecnaja Pamjat!  

 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Info about Monastery Gomirje:

"The monastery is thought to have been founded in 1600. The monastery includes the church of Roždenije Saint John the Baptist, built in 1719."

(Wikipedia)

Gomirje is a Serbian Orthodox monastery in Croatia. It is the westernmost Serb Orthodox monastery, located in the western part of Croatia near the village of Gomirje, near the town of Ogulin.

Nikola Musulin & Dusan's Code

If you google the name "Nikola Musulin," you will find many Nikola Musulins, in fact, one of them was the famous teacher (and poet) from Prizren, Kosovo, Serbia, who found the famous "Dushan's Code" that was written on May 21, 1349, in Skopje, the capital of the Serbian Empire.

From Wikipedia we learn that Dusan's Code was: ""We enact this Law by our Orthodox Synod, by His Holiness the Patriarch Kir Joanikije together with all the Archbishops and Clergy, small and great, and by me, the true-believing Emperor Stephen, and all the Lords, small and great, of this our Empire". In the Charter, which accompanied the Code, it said: "It is my desire to enact certain virtues and truest of laws of the Orthodox faith to be adhered to and observed".^[3

It was in 1859 that Nikola Musulin the teacher-poet found the manuscript and brought it from a monastery which is now in the National Museum in Belgrade.

(Read more about the Code on Wikipedia.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Du%C5%A1an%27s_Code