Miroslaw (Mike) Wisniewski

. Mirosław (Mike) Kazimierz Wisniewski passed away peacefully at his home on November 26. Mirek, as he was known to friends and family in Poland, was born October 19, 1942, to Jan and Wanda Wisniewski in Pabianice, Poland, where Jan served in the Polish Underground State during World War II . Nearing completion of his university studies in business and economics in Warsaw, Mirek met the love of his life, Sandra Pulaski, during her visit to Poland from America. After knowing each other for two weeks, she and Mirek agreed to meet in Vienna, Austria, as he had a tourist visa to leave Poland. His plan, however, was not to return to his home country while it was under communist rule. Sandra smuggled his important papers out of the country so he would not arouse suspicion crossing the border, and after two months together, they were married in Seefeld, Austria. His passing occurred just after they celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary . The couple emigrated briefly to New York, but Mirek accepted an offer of refugee status in Canada, and they moved to Montreal, where he started a lifelong career in food exports at B. Terfloth & Associates. To better fit into the English-speaking business world, Mirek soon adopted “Mike.” In 1973, the family, now including their son Adam, relocated to a satellite office in Jamaica, where Mike was shot and paralyzed during a robbery. Evacuation to Canada and rehabilitation followed, but Canada was not an ideal climate for life in a wheelchair, so in 1978, he moved the family to Atlanta to open a branch office for Terfloth. After years in exile away from his relatives, he reunited in Atlanta with his brother, Chris, who escaped Poland in 1981 and moved there with his family, as well as his cousin, Lola, and her extended family. Possessed of an entrepreneurial spirit, Mike founded his own food export company, Interfoods, and later joined AJC International in a management role. He mentored and motivated many in his industry and was known for his fearlessness and creative mind. Over the course of his career, he traveled to 75 countries in his wheelchair, sometimes alone, opening new trading relationships in the Middle East, South America, Russia, and China, where a chance meal inspired him to become a leading exporter of chicken feet. Poland’s communist regime began liberalizing in 1986, and he returned to his home country for the first time in twenty-two years in 1988, allowing him to reconnect with friends and relatives and to be present for the funerals of his parents. In retirement, he enjoyed drinking pinot noir, playing bridge, developing investment strategies, tending his garden, and ordering plants without consulting his wife. Mike’s strong spirit and devotion to family helped him achieve great success after his injury and earned him deep admiration from his peers. There was no obstacle he couldn’t overcome. He sat atop a camel in Egypt, rolled across the Great Wall, and well outlived the oppression that drove him from his home. His charm, tenacity, and appreciation for life will be missed by all who loved him. Mike is survived by his wife; his son and daughter-in-law (Kelley); his brother and sister-in-law (Stephanie); six nieces and nephews; and many relatives in Poland. Mike was cremated, and a celebration remembrance will follow next year. Donations in Mike’s memory can be made to the Shepherd Center Foundation or another charity.

Miroslaw (Mike) Wisniewski

October 19, 1942 - November 26, 2025