3/30/2006 - In Memoriam of Prof. Dr. Jaroslava Moserova, Founder of AFS in the Czech Republic
The AFS Network mourns the passing of Jaroslava (Jara) Moserova, on March 23 at the age of 76 after battling a long illness. Jara was the founder of AFS in the Czech Republic and was a charismatic woman who possessed exceptionally versatile gifts. She distinguished herself as a plastic surgeon, scientist, artist, playwright, translator, diplomat and politician, among other professional accomplishments.
Jara’s numerous and extraordinary achievements and her dramatic and remarkable life defy easy summation. Nevertheless, we recollect at least a few highlights from the main areas of the wide range of her activities. As a burns specialist in 1969 she treated Jan Palach, a student who set himself on fire in protest against the Soviet invasion in 1968 and did not survive his self-immolation. As a translator she collaborated on the translations of all the novels by Dick Francis into Czech. Following her acceptance of the Loeb award, given to former AFS students for demonstrating concern for understanding between people of different nations, she presented AFS with a metal sculpture entitled “Empathy.” The sculpture is on display at the AFS International headquarters in New York City. She was appointed as Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Australia and New Zealand by President Vaclav Havel in 1991. Between 1999 and 2001 she served as the President of the UNESCO General Conference. Additionally in 1996, she became the Vice Chair of the first Senate of the Czech Republic, a historic occasion. In 2002 she was nominated as a candidate for the presidency of the Czech Republic.
Jara Moserova´s AFS story truly reflects the course of history in her homeland in the second half of the 20th century. She was a participant in the first AFS year program in 1947. Jara’s participation in the program marked the first year of AFS activity in her homeland following the end of World War II, and sadly, it also marked the last year of AFS programs until 1990. After the communist takeover in February 1948 the regime closed the door against democracy and the country became a restricted area for AFS presence and activities for nearly half a century. It was Jara who, right after the success of the Velvet Revolution in 1989, in which she was actively involved, contacted the AFS Network and said “Hi, we are back and sorry for the delay”. That was how AFS was regenerated in the Czech Republic. In 1996, jointly with two other AFS participants from 1947, Jara crowned her AFS story by founding the AFS Czech Republic association.
The AFS Network deeply appreciates Jara’s contributions to AFS. We are forever indebted to her and we will always be grateful for her contributions.
Back to AFS News and Press Kit
 |
Printer Friendly |
