Artur Deska, a one-man army, has passed away. A legendary Polish volunteer in Ukraine, who advocated for reconciliation and cooperation between our countries. A romantic at heart, a positivist in action. Not only our friend, but also our advisor, whom we met during the Euromaidan in 2013. It was he who inspired one of the first Polish fundraising campaigns to support the European revolution that changed the course of history. This is how our humanitarian work for Ukraine began, sparking many other adventures that continues to this day.
Artur particularly loved working with the youth of Drohobych, whom he mentored for years as the head of the Youth Volunteer Centre of the local Greek Catholic Caritas. He gave a helping hand to families going through difficult times, sending ambitious children to study in Poland and further abroad. He treated their children as his own grandchildren and enjoyed their every visit immensely.
Artur was passionate about the history of totalitarianism and was always hungry for books. He would ask for books, rusks and broth cubes – for large families, for refugees and for military. He owned nothing himself but made sure that others had everything. Artur would give a shirt off his back to someone in need – from Drohobych to Avdiyivka and to the front line (where the military from Drohobych served). Artur never asked who you are, he always asked how he could help.
Artur built bridges, and brought people together across borders, religions and worldviews. He would often say that he built bridges between needs and opportunities. Thanks to Artur, we actively supported the newly established community of Crimean Tatars in Drohobych, who have been fleeing persecution by the Russian occupiers since 2014. It was the Tatar pilaf on Artur’s table that tasted the best.
Thanks to Artur, we met Jose Turczyk, Artur’s closest friend and partner in activist work, an exceptional erudite and a local guide, along with many other exceptional people.
Artur was a man of wit who could laugh at everything, including himself, and who always put people in need and his friends first. Last year, he celebrated his 20th anniversary of staying in Ukraine. This was a very important occasion to Artur, so we could not have missed it for anything. He is probably laughing now somewhere up there at the joke he played on all of us, delighted to bring friends from the four corners of the world together again in his home.
Artur’s funeral will take place on 1 August at 12:00 at St. Bartholomew’s Church in Drohobych.
Герої не вмирають.
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