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Laurinavičius Bronius

* 1921–2010
* recognized in 2010

Old cemetery of Skirsnemune village
Jurbarkas district

Laurinavičius Bronius

55.090974
22.909678

About the rescuer and the rescue story

Bronislovas was only 6 when his dad died. The boy was raised by his mother and had an older and younger brother. Throughout his life, Bronius was characterised by his creative talents - he not only drew beautifully, but also sang well. He planned to study music.

When his mother Elena was hiding Jews in their home, Bronius helped his mother and the people she was hiding as much as he could. During the post-war period, Bronislovas and his brother Pranas both joined the resistance against the Soviet invaders. Bronius was a direct liaison with Zemaitis' staff. In 1948 Bronislovas Laurinavičius was denounced and exiled to Siberia. He was imprisoned in Novosibirsk in 1948-1949, and in Norilsk camp in 1949-1956. His mother sent him parcels.

When he returned from Norilsk in 1956, he was not allowed to live in Girkalnis. Without a registered address, he was unable to get a job, so he did odd jobs. Priests he knew, who were also rescuing Jews, suggested that he move to Skirsnemune, where a branch of the Kaspinas factory was being built at the time. Bronius worked there and married his wife Felicija. He was regularly summoned to KGB interrogations in Jurbarkas.

Bronius and Felicia's family had twins, but unfortunately the children were born prematurely and died. A few years later, twins Aldona and Rimutė were born to the family. Daughter Aldona speaks of her dad, Bronius, and her grandmother, Elena, as very honest people who set high moral standards for themselves and their family. Bronius was very trustworthy, never gossiped about anyone, and was very principled - he had a beautiful voice and when invited to sing, he would refuse to go wherever he was asked to sing Soviet songs. He did not allow his daughters to be pioneers, or Komsomol members. During the Soviet era, the whole family went to church, regardless of anything. The legacy of the Soviet system was not accepted by Bronius. However, for his daughter Aldona, the path to law studies was closed, because her dad was a "convict", and her sister Rimutė enrolled in veterinary school. Bronius had 3 granddaughters - Rasa, Lina and Giedre.

Rescued persons:

Itzkhak Blecher, Zisl Blecher, Pesakhson, Dora, Ran Mina, Tatz Leib

Information collected using:

Memories of Bronislovas Laurinavičius' daughter Aldona

55.090974
22.909678

55.090974
22.909678

Elena Laurinavičienė and the rescued Leib Tatz with his wife Dora and relatives. 1959

Leib Tatz with his family

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