Antanas Razma

Garbės daktaras / Honorary Doctor (Suteiktas vardas 1995-10-18)

Dr. Antanas Razma, a distinguished Lithuanian-American figure, doctor, social activist, and bearer of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas of the Third Class, was awarded the VMU honorary doctorate regalia in 1996.

Antanas Razma was born on 20 June 1922 in Visvainiai, Plateliai district. After graduating from Plungė Gymnasium, he fled to Germany in 1944, where he graduated from the University of Tübingen in 1952 before moving to the USA that same year. There, he interned at Ravenswood Hospital in Chicago and, by 1954, had obtained his general medical practice licence in Illinois, subsequently starting his private practice in Wilmington. He served as the President of the Medical Staff at St. Joseph Medical Center and retired in 1992.

In 1960, Dr. Razma published an article in the daily newspaper “Draugas” proposing the establishment of a million-dollar foundation to support Lithuanian cultural activities in the United States and took on the role of leading the group of initial donors. He served as Chairman of the Lithuanian Foundation in Illinois until 1965, as Chairman of the Grants Commission from 1988 to 2001, and later as the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and a member of the Honorary Committee of the Lithuanian Foundation.

Antanas Razma was actively involved in the activities of the Lithuanian American Community, serving as its long-time council member from 1961 to 1997, Vice-Chairman of the Presidium of the Board of Directors, Chairman of the Audit Commission, Chairman of the National Executive Committee from 1988 to 1991, and as Chairman of the Court of Honour in 1992. He also chaired the Organising Committee of the World Lithuanian Days in 1983. In 1975, he was named “Man of the Year” by the Lithuanian American Republican League of Illinois.

Antanas Razma was actively involved in the activities of the Lithuanian Foundation in the USA and was elected Honorary Chairman of the Foundation’s Board. He was also a member of various medical organisations in the USA, the Friends of the Lithuanian Front, the Ateitis Federation, as well as the boards of various organisations and fundraising committees.

Based on information provided by VMU Library.