When my family moved to Chicago in 1964, I met my uncle Vaclovas Gutauskas (1913-2003). He was a Lithuanian Jesuit priest and was the first cousin of my father Vaclovas Plioplys. He was a frequent visitor to our home, and several times invited me to visit him to discuss Lithuanian numismatic and philatelic matters. He was always kind and soft spoken. I do not recall him ever requesting any financial support from my parents.

In 1998 my sister, Ramute Plioplys, interviewed him and transcribed those conversations. Several years later, after his death, I read them and was shocked to realize what he had done: he raised all the funds necessary to build the Chicago Lithuanian Center and all of the adjacent buildings. This is the largest existing building built by Lithuanians outside of Lithuania. Not only did he raise the funds to build this complex of buildings, but he also raised the funds to operate this center for several decades after its opening in 1957.

I realized that the Chicago Lithuanian Center is actually a part of the Plioplys family legacy. I joined the Board of Directors of the Center and have been working to make sure it continues to thrive.

I have tried to inform the public of his incredible accomplishment—something that very few recognized. In 2017 I organized a photographic exhibit “Gutauskas, Elskus, Kezys” which was shown in Chicago, and subsequently in Kaunas and Marijampole, Lithuania.

It is with considerable satisfaction that the Center’s Board of Directors recently decided to name the chapel the Father Vaclovas Gutauskas Chapel. An article about this appeared in the Chicago Lithuanian newspaper “Draugas” (meaning friend).

This is an honor for Vaclovas Gutauskas that was long overdue.