Ireland’s oldest man, Holocaust survivor Josef Veselsky, has died aged 107.
Veselsky was born Josef Weiss in 1918, in Trnava, Czechoslovakia (modern-day Slovakia), to Max Weiss and Berta Weiss née Schreiber. Max and Bertha were murdered in August 1942 in Auschwitz. Veselsky’s brother, Hugo Weiss, was also killed in Auschwitz alongside his wife in August 1942 at the age of 30. He had been a doctor at the hospital in Starý Smokovec.
Veselsky watched as his family was pushed onto cattle trucks, but he did not learn of their fate until the 1980s.
During the war, Veselsky’s mother encouraged him to change his surname, Weiss, to something more Slovak-sounding. He went on to join the Czech underground resistance in the Carpathian mountains, for which he was later awarded the Slovak National Uprising Medal.
Life trajectory of a Holocaust survivor
Following the end of the war in 1945, Veselsky became the secretary to a minister in the Czechoslovak government, but fled the country in 1948 amid the Communist takeover.
With his young family, he fled to Hungary, then Zurich, where he secured visas to Australia. However, Ireland was recommended as a safer journey, and the family moved to Dublin.
Veselsky opened a jewelry business importing Swiss watches, and was captain of two national tennis teams (Czechoslovak and Irish). He was also captain of the Irish table tennis team for over 20 years.
Throughout his life, Veselsky received many accolades, such as Commander of the Slovak Order of the White Double Cross for his contributions to sport and diplomacy, the Special Merit Award from the Soccer Writers Association of Ireland, an honorary Master of Arts degree from Trinity College Dublin; and the European Table Tennis Union Badge of Honour for his outstanding contribution to the work.
Table Tennis Ireland paid tribute to Veselsky on Monday, calling him a “towering figure in our sport.”
“Joe Veselsky’s resilience, integrity, and lifelong dedication to table tennis leave an enduring legacy. On behalf of Table Tennis Ireland, we extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends. He will be remembered with great respect and gratitude.”
Veselsky was recognized as Ireland’s oldest man last year.