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The Kazickas family is pleased to present this special 100^th year anniversary exhibition on the life and times of Joseph P. Kazickas (1918-2014,) philanthropist, patriot, and businessman here in in Palanga, one of the Lithuania’s most popular cities.

When Joseph and Alexandra celebrated their 60^th wedding anniversary in 2001 by bringing more than 30 of their American friends to Lietuva, a visit to Palanga and Nida was a highlight of the festivities. We rented a huge, concrete house that once housed Soviet officials and strolled along the private beach, admiring the sunset and collecting small pieces of amber that washed up on the shore.

Born in Ciornaya Padina, Russia where his Lithuanian ancestors were exiled after the 1863 uprising against the Tsar, J. P Kazickas spent most of his life in the United States with only 20 years in Lithuania, but never lost his love for his homeland. He lobbied for its freedom during the dark days of the cold war, rejoiced in the re-declaration of its independence in 1990 and worked hard to bring economic prosperity to the Lithuanian people.

Kazickas lived a very full life. Arriving penniless in the United States from displaced persons camps in Germany in 1947, he received a doctorate in economics from Yale University in 1951 and went on to become a successful entrepreneur.  He raised five children with his wife, Alexandra, traveled the word, forming friendships with people at the highest levels of American and international society, and became a generous donor to many Lithuanian causes.

In this exhibit, a visitor can read about his varied life experiences. Kazickas was an intellectual, gifted writer and orator, a patron of the arts, a sportsman, an enthusiastic photographer and gardener, and most of all, a devoted family man, married to Alexandra for 70 years.

He established the Kazickas Family Foundation in 1998, which is his greatest legacy to the Lithuanian people.  KFF has supported more than 100 charitable causes, including the computerization of public schools, the reconstruction of important architectural sites, the publication of numerous books on Lithuanian history and promotion of music and dance festivals that showcase the country’s rich traditions and culture.

The Kazickas family is grateful for this wonderful opportunity to present our patriarch’s life to the general public.

During the exhibition opening, history researcher Vidmantas Valiusaitis will present the theme "Joseph Kazickas and Lithuania's Freedom Case" where he will cover main aspects of Dr. J. P. Kazickas' life and his dedication to Lithuania.

Already during his student days Kazickas was committed to freedom, democracy, national solidarity, social justice issues in Lithuania. His view of the nation, state and each person reflects in his thesis " Bolshevik agriculture politics in Lithuania 1940-1941) written in 1943 while at Vilnius University. J. P. Kazickas' objective was a united, socially responsible and fair Lithuania that believes in its citizens, their talent to create, their ability to share and reach for common goodness in all of the layers of our society. Selfish view of the wealth and all it provides becomes pointless over time when individual finally realizes what was the meaning of it all? J. Kazickas wasn't wealthy when he realized that you couldn't be happy when there are so many unfortunate people around you. That's why it was extremely important to him to change society's view regarding the wealth, to understand it not as a goal but rather an opportunity.

Vidmantas Valiusaitis is a journalist, publicist, editor, author of few books and many articles discussing politics, culture and history and currently is also Adolfas Damusis Democracy Center at the Martynas Mazvydas National Library director.