Steponas Kairys 1879 – 1964

Biography

Steponas Kairys was born on January 1, 1879, in the Lithuanian village of Užunvėžiai, during a time of significant change for his homeland. He grew to become an important figure in Lithuanian political life, dedicating himself to his nation’s future during a period marked by struggle and transformation. His life spanned nearly nine decades, witnessing the dramatic shifts that reshaped Eastern Europe throughout the twentieth century.

Kairys spent his later years in Brooklyn, New York, where a substantial Lithuanian community had established itself. He passed away on December 16, 1964, at the age of eighty-five, far from his birthplace yet maintaining the cultural connections of his heritage. His remains were returned to Lithuania, reflecting both his enduring ties to his native country and the importance placed on resting in ancestral soil. He was interred at Petrašiūnai Cemetery in Kaunas, one of Lithuania’s most significant burial grounds, where many notable figures of the nation rest.