Irena Veisaitė will always be remembered as an exceptional voice of tolerance, empathy and optimism in Lithuania and among her many friends at the U.S. Embassy. Her passing is a tremendous loss. As a Holocaust survivor she used her devastating experience to invite others to appreciate her fellow citizens and the world in all its beauty. Irena’s greatest gift to the world was her intellect, charisma, and relentless advocacy for the marginalized of society. She inspired both Lithuanian and foreign writers, historians, film makers, politicians, diplomats and youth to understand each other and to seek to transcend divisions.
May the memory of Irena and her remarkable life live on in memory for generations to come.