In Gratitude: The People Who Made This Journey Possible
This 20-year journey of remembrance was never a solo effort. It was built upon the kindness, courage, and dedication of local citizens, historians, and leaders in Lithuania who shared a vision of bringing Vilkaviškis’s history back into the light. I am forever indebted to the following individuals who lent their hands, hearts, and minds to this project:
Our Core Visionaries & Historians
Antanas: The former Director of the Vilkaviškis Museum. His deep historical knowledge, foundational pamphlets, and seminal book Traces of a Lost Nation provided the very bedrock for our research.
Irma: My irreplaceable partner in this project. Born in Vilkaviškis with no prior background in Jewish history, the sheer depth of her unyielding desire to help preserve this memory has never failed to amaze me.
The Voices of the Press
Kristina: A dedicated reporter for the local Santaka newspaper who acted as a crucial voice during the foundational years, writing numerous articles to engage the local community. (She is also a talented arborist!)
Algis: A prominent newspaper reporter who published the very first major feature article about our project in Lietuvos rytas, putting our work on the national stage.
Our Publishing & Translation Champions
Arūnas (Piko Valanda): The Managing Director of the Piko Valanda publishing house. Together with his deeply dedicated staff, he brought the history of Jewish Vilkaviškis into print, flawlessly publishing our two books and producing our professional Holocaust exhibition stands.
Gražina: A proud daughter of Vilkaviškis who stepped forward at the beginning of this journey. She generously gave her time and language skills to handle so much of our vital early translation work, helping us bridge cultural worlds.
Local Leadership, Tourism & Culture
Vitas: The Director of the Vilkaviškis Tourism Department. A leader with a profound, authentic passion for the history of this region, whose support has been instrumental in keeping this heritage visible for modern travelers.
Elena: The Director of the Informal Education Department. A visionary educator who helped transform local history into unforgettable, living experiences for the younger generation of the town.
Creative Educators & Community Protectors
Vaida: A deeply committed teacher whose creativity and historical empathy brought some of our most profoundly moving Holocaust Memorial ceremonies to life.
Audrius: A senior commander in the local defense forces. A man of immense knowledge, he shares a deep respect and a keen understanding of the unique military and social history of this area.
Regional Supporters & Local Leadership
Arune from Kalvarija: Thank you for your tireless regional insights, guidance, and support across our genealogical and historical updates.
Ingrida Bunikiene from the Culture House: Thank you for providing the creative spaces, institutional support, and community trust needed to bring our educational programs and cultural events to life.
The Mayors of Vilkaviškis:
My sincere gratitude to the various Mayors across the decades—including current Mayor Algirdas Neiberka and his predecessors—who recognized the profound cultural value of this history and welcomed us with open arms.
Mr. Remigijus Kurauskas
Our Academic & Museum Guardians
Dr. Ruth Leiserowitz & Michael Leiserowitz:
Two incredible people deeply dedicated to uncovering the rich Jewish history of this entire region, whom I am proud to call my closest friends.
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Ruth: A world-class historian who served as the Deputy Director of the German Historical Institute in Warsaw from 2009 to 2024, and now serves as a Senior Researcher at Klaipėda University.
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Michael: The visionary founder of the organization "Jews in East Prussia" Jews in East Prussia – Research and Teaching about the Jewish life in the former German East Prussia, that is today divided in Poland, Russia and Lithuania. and the driving force who successfully established the Jewish Museum in what was Königsberg (now Kaliningrad).
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Together, they are wonderful, brilliant, and deeply kind people who are always willing to take on any historical adventure with me.
