News
American Donald Yadeski Donates to the Lidice Memorial
American citizen Donald Yadeski, who sadly passed away on January 3, 2022, left a remarkable legacy to the Central Bohemian village of Lidice in his final will. Out of respect for the suffering endured by this place and its people, he bequeathed $165,000 to the Lidice Memorial. Of this amount, $85,000 is designated for the restoration of the foundations of the Horák Farmhouse, located near the mass grave of the murdered men of Lidice. The remaining $80,000 is allocated for the restoration of the Memorial to the Child Victims of War.
In Lidice, we would never have learned of the death of this man, unknown to the Czech Republic, if not for his selfless act in memory of his beloved parents, Katherine and Andrew Yadeski. Through this generous gift, he has left an indelible mark on the modern history of the village. We extend our gratitude to him and all who participated in fulfilling his final will.
Biography:
Donald R. “Pete” Yadeski passed away peacefully on Monday, January 3, 2022, at the age of 85. He was from Lawrence Park Township, Erie, and was born to Katherine Regis Yadeski and Andrew M. Yadeski.
It was during a wintery storm that, Donald R. Yadesky was born on January 29, 1936, together with his twin sister in the early morning hours at their childhood home in Lawrence Park Township. Dr. Emerson, the town doctor, delivered his first set of twins! To family and friends, he was known as Pete and graduated from Lawrence Park High School in 1954, where he was chosen as the Prom King during his senior year. Pete went on to serve proudly in the United States Army and after an Honorable Discharge went to work for Hammermill Paper Company. He was then employed by General Electric Company for a lengthy time, subsequently retiring to pursue hobbies and personal interests during his golden years. Pete was a generous uncle and enjoyed visiting with all his nieces and nephews. He was the fun-loving uncle that came to all the family celebrations presenting gifts, wearing his Mickey Mouse sweatshirt, bringing balloons, and Tootsie Pops to entertain the kids. His hobbies included listening to music, scrap booking, reading about and discussing the Civil War, and playing cards. His real passion was gardening. An avid gardener, Pete enjoyed walking outdoors; as well as cultivating the soil, planting, growing, and harvesting from his backyard gardens. He planted and maintained numerous fruit trees, flowers, and vegetables. He was also a long-time supporter and member of the Lawrence Park Historical Society and an Antique Collectors’ Club. In his Last Will and Testament, he left a portion of his estate for the public good of the residents of the rebuilt village of Lidice in the Czech Republic. As such, the donations to the Grounds of the Horak’s Farmhouse and The Memorial to the Children’s Victims of War come from him.
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