Milan Fryščak In Memoriam (1932-2020)
DAHA and its Board note with extreme sadness the passing of Prof. Milan Fryščak. An important teacher, scholar, organizer and personality, his contributions to the world of Czech studies over more than forty years were exemplary.
Mr.Fryščak received his BA at Palacky University in Olomouc, and after escaping from Czechoslovakia he became a refugee for two years until he arrived in the United States in 1959. He studied at the University of California Berkeley, receiving an MA degree, and taught at Wittenberg University in Ohio. He received his PhD in Slavic Linguistics at Ohio State University in 1969, and began his career at New York University in 1971. He is author of Say it in Czech and other writings, and has received many honors including the Charles University Memorial Medal on the occasion of the 650th anniversary of the founding of that institution. In his various leadership positions he played a significant role in Czech-American life, and was important in establishing New York University’s relationship to Prague and the Czech Republic broadly.
In addition to his honors and awards, and his contributions as a teacher and organizer, Prof. Fryščak was a wonderful person, whose deep humanity touched all those who came into contact with him. We were always delighted to see him at our events, and he will be deeply missed at the Bohemian National Hall.