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PIASA MOURNS THE DEATH OF ITS MEMBER,
JAN NOWAK JEZIORANSKI The Polish Institute of Arts & Sciences of America (PIASA) mourns the passing of its prominent member, Jan Nowak Jezioranski, who died at the age of 91 in his native Poland on January 20, 2005. He was a long time member of its Advisory Council who actively participated in Annual Meetings and other programs of the Institute. Considered one of the wise men of 20 th Century Poland and American Polonia, he used his moral authority to advance their interests.
His heroic exploits during World War II in the Polish underground and his leadership as the head of the Polish service of Radio Free Europe in Munich during the height of the Cold War, made him a legendary figure. As a consultant to the National Security Council in Washington, DC he helped shape American foreign policy toward Eastern Europe. His contributions were given public recognition when in 1996 he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
He authored two autobiographical books, Courier From Warsaw and Warfare Over the Radio Waves (Wojna w Eterze-Wspomnienia) and many articles and op-ed pieces that appeared in major newspapers in both the United States and Poland. In 2000 Jagiellonian University bestowed on him a doctorate “honoris causa” while the Polish Academy of Arts & Sciences in Krakow, the parent organization of PIASA, honored him by making him its honorary member. The only other person receiving this honor from the Krakow academy is His Holiness, John Paul II. May he rest in Peace. Czesc Jego Pamieci.
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