Memorie.al / On October 24, 2014, the heart of a beloved figure of the Albanian-American community, Prendush Gjon Gega, stopped beating in his homeland at the age of 98. The news of his death at that time deeply saddened his compatriots, who loved and were deeply loved by this good man. He passed away surrounded by his family and relatives, with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, in the arms of his son Nika, in the village of Dajç in Lezha…! We recall with nostalgia that he returned to his beloved homeland (accompanied by the author of this article) after the overthrow of communism in Albania, following 50 years in exile, including Kosovo, Belgium, Italy, and the USA.
The early and close friendship between the well-known man from Puka, Prendush Gjon Gega, and the famous man from Shkodra, writer Ernest Koliqi, began in Italy. The former Minister of Education of Albania, the distinguished professor and brilliant prose writer, Ernest Koliqi (1903-1975), in the magazine “Shejzat,” a platform for the pluralistic thought of Albanian intellectuals in exile, cited Prendush Gjon Gega as a model example in an appreciative article—this noble man, with a pure heart and great humanist, towards all Albanian political emigrants, regardless of religion and region, who were settled in Italy, under the care of the Italian Government and international charitable organizations, in defense of peoples enslaved by communist dictatorial regimes…!
Anyone who knew him closely and sought his help during the difficult period of escape and settlement of the Albanian political emigration in former Yugoslavia and later in Belgium, Italy, etc., and even in the USA, felt the generosity and great contribution of the tireless and kind-hearted man, Prendush Gjon Gega. A full century of life, and out of these 50 years, Prendushi spent them in emigration, the majority in the USA. Everyone called him respectfully: “Baci” (The Elder) or “Prendush Gjon Gega of Puka” in Kosovo, Italy, and New York.
He always longed for his homeland and the family he left in Albania. Gega, a Puka native, was young when he fled Albania, along with other members of his family and village, as a result of the persecutions and fierce repercussion of the anti-Albanian communist regime that was being violently installed in the land of eagles. He left a good name everywhere he went, helping people in need without ever seeking a reward from anyone, but God, whom he believed in with his soul, rewarded the good man by granting him longevity, up to 100 years old… and today he holds him in His arms, in eternal life…!
The ordeal of escape from the communist hyena regime
Exactly 98 years ago, in Bugjon of Puka, the young couple Gjon and Dile were blessed by God with a beautiful boy, whom they baptized with the name Prendush. He grew up happy, with great love and special care from his parents. This family would later expand with four other sons, one after the other: Gjini, Smajli, Ndue, and Pjetri.
Like many friends, fellow villagers, and other anti-communists of the time who openly fought and opposed the barbaric communist regime, Prendush Gjon Gega, with his two brothers, Gjini and Ndue, left their ancestors’ birthplace, their family, and their small children, with tears and pain in their souls, heading towards an unknown but hopeful path towards the Western world. But not everything would go according to their thoughts and dreams.
For many months, they wandered through the rugged mountains of the Northern Highlands of Albania, during days with snow and frost, without sufficient food or clothing.
Meanwhile, the communists (the Special Pursuit Forces of the Sigurimi, my note T.M.) thought they had crossed the border, but in fact, as Prendushi and his friends had often told me, they were hiding in the mountains of Albania…!
The Pursuit Forces of official red Tirana had at that time issued an arrest warrant and offered monetary rewards for any person who provided information on the whereabouts of the fugitives from Puka. Immediately, as soon as the Sigurimi employees were informed by their spies that the Gega brothers had taken to the mountains to fight communism, in an act of revenge, the communist regime arrested their families, who were transported by car without clothes and other necessary means of living, to prisons and concentration camps, where they endured painful hardships that lasted until the fall of communism in 1990…!
Thus, as soon as Prendushi, his brothers, and other relatives from Bugjon of Puka arrived in former Yugoslavia, the Yugoslav UDB questioned them for a long time, fearing that they might cause nationalist unrest in Kosovo and elsewhere. Prendushi eventually left Kosovo and, with his brother’s family, settled in Belgium, and after a few years, moved to international refugee camps in Italy.
Here, thanks to his honesty and sincerity, he was highly valued by the supervisors dealing with immigration issues, who entrusted him with the role of assistant, responsible for providing first aid to the Albanian emigrants arriving daily at these camps. With no self-interest and with great integrity, he carried out his entrusted duty, helping thousands of fellow emigrants, regardless of religion or region.
In several political refugee camps in Italy, which included Albanians, Prendushi stood by people in need, families, and individuals who had taken the difficult path of emigration for a better life and away from the violence and communist-atheist political exterminations in Albania and Kosovo.
Together with the respected cleric, Dom Prek Ndrevashaj, parish priest of the Albanian community in Italy (and finally, until he passed into eternal life, served as the parish priest of the Albanian Catholic Church “Zoja Pajtore” in Detroit, Michigan), Prendushi helped dozens of fellow emigrants complete the documents to come to the Blessed Land of the USA.
Getting to know the good man, Prendush Gjon Gega
“Honest men like Prendush Gjon Gega of Puka are a source of pride for us. He never misses a Sunday to come to Church, to wholeheartedly participate in the holy mass, and generously helps everyone from the heart, regardless of religion or region. Prendushi greatly respects the tradition of the family and the area he came from in New York, along with his relatives…! He has also generously helped finance religious cultural magazines, especially the magazine “Drita,” in Ferizaj, Kosovo…”! Dr. Mons Zef Oroshi (1912-1989) would write in the magazine “Jeta Katholike Shqiptare” (Albanian Catholic Life), in New York, in 1966.
“I met the tireless activist of our community here in New York, Prendush Gjon Gega, 30 years ago, and from that day on, we remained inseparable friends…! For me, the first meeting was unforgettable, where we had an extremely warm and very friendly conversation with this honest and very special man, with a great spiritual world of patriotism and religious devotion, as a model and example for the entire Albanian-American community.
I recall, from the memories of my children’s godfather, Monsignor Zef Oroshi, that Prendushi was the first person at the beginning of every year (on January 1) to pay his dues at the Catholic Church “Our Lady of Shkodra” and dedicated at least one day of free work for the care of the flower garden in our Church’s yard.
During the long winter nights, he would stay for hours at his house, conversing with numerous friends, among whom were: the jurist Kapidan of Mirdita, Ndue Gjomarku, whom he had known since his time as an emigrant in Italy; his dear friend Dr. Mons Zef Oroshi (1912-1989), the distinguished activist and great personality of the Albanian national issue, Dom Anton Kçira, and many other friends from Mirdita, Puka, Shkodra, and the Albanian ethnic territories, especially during the commemoration of the religious feast of Saint Sebastian (Sh’Masjani), which he celebrated according to the tradition in his homeland, every year on January 19…!
He was very happy that his house was full of friends, just as if he were in Bugjon of Puka. On that great and holy night, Prendushi would stay up until the late hours, serving and warmly conversing with his friends. Various topics were discussed, including the past in their homeland and their families in the dreadful prisons of death, and the memories in the concentration camps where numerous members of their families were scattered—an open wound that bled blood and pain for every Albanian emigrant…!
Many times, when foreign and Albanian priests who were in exile visited the Albanian Church in New York and the dedicated priest, writer, and translator Dr. Monsignor Zef Oroshi, Gega from Puka would also talk for hours with the completely Albanianized Italian, the encyclopedic priest, Father Giacomo Gardini S.J., (known in Shkodra by the name Jak, whom the communist regime of dictator Enver Hoxha imprisoned for ten years, 1945-1955, my note T.M.). He had known Father Jak since the refugee camps in Italy, when the Italian and Albanian priests commemorated the communist persecution of the Catholic Clergy in Albania…!
Prendushi was also friends with the distinguished scholar of the multifaceted figure of Father Gjergj Fishta O.F.M., the chaplain or cleric of the Albanian community in Italy, Father Danjel Gjeçaj O.F.M., Dom Prek Ndrevashaj, and his other friends, such as: the Kapidan of Mirdita, Gjoni i Markagjonit, the former Minister of Internal Affairs of Albania, Kolë Bibë Mirakaj, Prof. Karl Gurakuqi, Prof. Martin Camaj, Prof. Rexhep Krasniqi, Prof. Zef Neka, the Chairman of the Albanian League of Prizren, Eng. Xhafer Deva.
Likewise, he had great acquaintance and friendship with: Abaz Kupi, Kolë Bajraktari, Gjelosh Balaj with his brothers, Fran Sokoli, the brothers Gjon and Zef Çupi, Llesh Markadoda, Dodë Gega, Mark Zogu, the anti-communist paratrooper Kolë Çuni, Colonel Xhemal Laçi, Met Bajraktari, Imam Isa Hoxha, Musli Mulosmani, Fran Kola, Ndue Ademi with his brothers, Dedë Ndreca, Pjetër Tusha, the brothers Lazër and Gjokë Berisha, Engjell Zagreda, Ndoc Popaj (the father of the revered priest Dom Pjetër Popaj), Shtjefen Gazivoda, Gjeto Curanaj, and many, many others.
Prendushi was the very history of the region he came from. He spoke with great respect about history full of events and ancient characters, which he had heard and learned from his grandfather and father, Gjoni. He was the first child, and his father Gjon kept him close and treated him as a friend and brother, having seen in him the smart, cool-headed, sweet-spoken, generous, and noble-spirited man, etc. He inherited these positive qualities from his parents, who were honored and respected throughout the entire region of Puka.
His physical and spiritual portrait was unique among all Albanian emigrants in New York at that time. He was handsome, with a gentle look, in whose eyes one could read the tenderness and sufferings of his people. He was tall like the oak trees of the Puka Mountains where he was born and raised, proud of his family’s history. Whenever people went to talk to him, he had a special courtesy, calm by nature, very measured in his knowledge, manfully tested by the waves of a life full of troubles and survival in the endless ocean of emigration, determined in his strong character, generous in spirit, noble and kind to everyone, in every time and circumstance. Prendushi was a devoted patriot and religious man.
Kosovo, his second homeland
Kosovo became his second homeland. He spent a good part of his time there, surrounded by love and respect from all the locals in Dumnica of Llapi (Municipality of Podujeva). He always brought back memories and impressions from those territories, which were still living under the oppression and exploitation of centuries-old Serb-Slavic colonizers.
One winter night, during the annual commemoration of the feast of Sh’Masjani, here in New York, Prendushi was asked questions by his many friends at the large table in his house.
One of the friends asked him an interesting question, knowing that Prendushi would describe the event with a subtle humor, characteristic of his style during real historical narratives.
“Dear Prendush, please tell us, what happened to you when you crossed the Serb’s field during the snowy winter season?!”
With a noticeable humor, he began to tell the story that had happened to him at the time: “It was a harsh winter with snow and frost, and it was very cold. I thought I would find a shorter route to get to the main road that led towards the city. A neighbor, laughing, told me: ‘O lucky friend, don’t cross over there, that’s the ‘Shka’s’ (Slav’s) field…’! Prendushi, still smiling, immediately answered: ‘No! This is our land’!”
The ‘Shka,’ knowing the Albanian language very well, immediately went to report to the local Police. After a few days, a letter arrived at Prendushi’s house, stating that he had to urgently appear at the District Court. On the appointed day, he appeared at the court at 9:00 in the morning. He waited all day in the corridor, and around 3:00 in the afternoon, the UDB Chief, Nazmi Kursani, questioned him. He nervously addressed Prendushi, saying: “Did you come here to save your head, or to divide borders!? This time I’ll let you go home free. If you make even the smallest mistake, we will send you back to that executioner of yours (referring to the dictator Enver Hoxha, T.M.’s note) or you will leave your bones in our prisons…!”
There were many such historical episodes in the life of Prendush Gjon Gega, about which entire books of memoirs could be written…! Many of his friends took these real events as humor during the long winter nights…! The unforgettable Prendush Gjon Gega, when he passed away on October 24, 2014, was accompanied with great honors and respect to his final resting place, surrounded by hundreds of friends, comrades, and many well-wishers from his birthplace, Shkodra, Lezha, and the USA. Memorie.al
