In Memoriam: Dr. Antanas Razma (1922-2017)
On March 26, 2017, almost having reached the honorable age of 95 years, Dr. Antanas Razma, Sr. quietly passed away surrounded by his loving family. He was born on June 20, 1922 in the town of Visvainiai, Kretinga region in Lithuania. He is best known as the principal founder of the Lithuanian Foundation. He was a highly respected and widely recognized Lithuanian persona. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from Vytautas Magnus University and honored as a Cavalier of the III degree to the Grand Duke Gediminas.
As a youth, he completed high school studies in the town of Plungė, then in 1944 fled with his family to Germany, where he completed his medical studies at Tubingen University in 1952. Upon immigrating to the United States, he completed his internship at Ravenswood Hospital in Chicago and in 1954 obtained his family practice license in the State of Illinois. Thereafter, he established a private practice in Wilmington moving on to become chief of medical staff at the St. Joseph Medical Center. He ultimately retired in 1992.
While he was an excellent doctor, the Lithuanian community will best remember him as the principal founder of the Lithuanian Foundation, Inc. and as the individual who was always its guiding spirit.
In 1960, he published an article in “Draugas”, a widely read Lithuanian newspaper, in which he suggested organizing and leading a group of initial donors toward the establishment of a million dollar foundation to fund Lithuanian cultural activities in the United States.
His youthful enthusiasm, concrete and practical idea, gained wide support, and on February 10, 1962 a temporary Board of Directors was elected with Dr. Antanas Razma, Sr. serving as its initial Chairman. During the subsequent years until 2004, he served three separate 3-year terms as its Chairman, interspersed with 10 years as President of the Foundation. Over the years, he provided unwavering support to the Foundation, offered constructive ideas as well as patient criticism, all focused with a keen eye on the constant growth and evolution of the organization. It was an un-dying flame that burned deeply in his heart and a banner he proudly carried throughout his life.
In 2005, in recognition of his many years guiding and relentlessly working on behalf of the Foundation, the Board of Directors unanimously awarded him the title of Honorary Chairman of the Board with privileges to attend all Foundation functions in perpetuity.
We must also remember his active persona in the Lithuanian community and his contributions as a member in numerous U.S. medical organizations. While he will always be remembered for his enthusiasm, his work ethic and his vision, Dr. Antanas Razma, Sr. will always stand out as an exemplary human being.
Lithuania’s President Valdas Adamkus presents the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas to Dr. Antanas Razma, Sr. (on the left) on November 18, 1998 m. (LF archive photo).
Photo on the top of the page: Dr. Antanas Razma, Sr. (second from the left) during the Lithuanian Foundation’s 50th Anniversary Gala in 2012. (Photo: Vytenis Lietuvninkas).
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