World ORT is saddened to learn of the untimely passing of Dr. Radan Salomonovic, a member of our Academic Advisory Council and ORT lay leader in the Czech Republic.

Dr. Salomonovic was involved in the ORT network for almost 30 years. He was instrumental in returning ORT to the  Czech Republic and the development of STEM studies at the ORT-affiliated Lauder School in Prague.

He was a significant contributor to the Academic Advisory Council and was highly respected as both a leading scientist and a member of the ORT family.

Dr. Salomonovic gained his PhD in Nuclear and Sub-Nuclear Physics from the Czech Technical University of Prague, Faculty of Nuclear Science, and took a permanent position as research fellow in the same department.

In 1999 he left academia and became a full-time employee at Pfeiffer Vacuum. He went on to become a country manager and head of the company’s commercial operations in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, as well as liaison for Israel.

Vladimir Dribinskiy, World ORT’s Chief Program Officer, said: “Radan’s loss will be felt by many of us. He was very down-to-earth and practical in his work with ORT. As the son of Holocaust survivors he was very involved in Jewish heritage and Holocaust memorial efforts in his country.

“It is a huge loss for us and his family – our thoughts and condolences go to his wife and teenage son.”

Dr. Salomonovic (left) with ORT South Africa’s Ellis Falkof at a World ORT event in Israel in 2022