Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius on Friday night extended his condolences to the family, friends, the American Lithuanian community and the Lithuanian World Community.

“His life-long work for Lithuania and for the preservation of the Lithuanian identity in the world will remain in our memory,” the minister said in a message of condolence.

Stanley (Stasys) Balzekas was born in Chicago in 1924, graduated from DePaul University, worked as president of Balzekas Motor Sales and established the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture in Chicago in 1966.

He was a member of the Democratic Party of American Lithuanians, the Lithuanian Foundation, the American Chamber of Industry, also a presidium member and vice-president of the American Lithuanian Council.

From 1989, he headed Archer International, an advertising and PR agency, and advised US officials on the issues pertaining to national cultures and their interrelations. In 1990, he established the Chicago-Vilnius Sister City Committee and worked as its chair.

From 2000, Balzekas served as Lithuania’s Honorary Consul in Florida.

In 1996, Balzekas was awarded the Cross of Commander of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas and in 2019 – the Grand Cross of Commander of the Order for Merits to Lithuania.

In 2020, he was presented with the Golden Vytis Badge of Honor by the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in recognition of his special accomplishments.

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