Pysko Jan & Maria (Langer); Son: Roman

Pysko, Jan Pysko, Maria Pysko, Roman The Jews of Drohobycz, in Western Galicia, will never forget the family of Jan Pysko, a local painter, whose actions to save Jews during the occupation were outstanding. Between the time of liquidation of the ghetto in May 1943 and the liberation of the city in August 1944, the Pysko family gave asylum in their home to 46 Jews. They were: Benjamin Barer, Feiwel Lautner, Maszka Weis, Ignac Brumer, Pola Brumer, Mietek Brumer, Mania Silberberg, Leib Reich, Mania Wegner, Szymon Beker, Genia Beker, Mila Beker, Lusia Bein, Maks Silberstein, Josef Bergman, Anda Bergman, Mietek Bergman, Sara Betman, Genia Betman, Jakub Bleicher, Blima Bleicher, Cwi Betman, Leib Knol, Bernard Fiszer, Lida Fiszer, Bronek Weinfeld, Matos Hofman, Wolf Blind, Munio Bakenrot, Meir Kurzman, Herbert Pomeranz, Dora Pomeranz, Abraham Pomeranz, Wolf Gruman, Mordechai Lunerberg, Genia Lunerberg, Dziunia Kostenbaum, Abraham Kostenbaum, Halina Kostenbaum, Anda Steinhauser, Mosze Klingkupfer, Dow Klingkupfer, Adela Distler, Mendel Weis, Nuta (surname unknown), Wisia Weis The first survivors arrived at the home of Jan and Maria Pysko after the liquidation of the ghetto and the last ones in 1944 after escaping from forced labor camps in the area, which were about to be liquidated. Some of the Jews knew Pysko from the past, but he received all those who came for help, hiding them in a special well-concealed shelter he built under his house. Because the Pysko family could not afford the expanse of keeping so many Jews over such a long period, the fugitives paid for their own upkeep, although Pysko never asked anything in return for the risk he and his family were taking by letting them into their home. Jan, his wife, Maria, and their eldest son Roman, 14, all participated in caring for the fugitive - buying provisions and cooking, providing medication for the sick, and cleaning up the shelter where they hid. In early 1944, the Germans arrested Jan Pysko, but his wife and son continued to take care of the fugitives they had taken under their wing until the liberation. After the war, the survivors went their different ways. Some immigrated to Israel and others to different countries and the Pysko family moved to an area within the new polish border. The survivors never forgot what the Pysko family had done for them and corresponded with them for years, with some assisting financially as well. On October 16, 1979, Yad Vashem recognized Maria Pysko and her husband, Jan Pysko, as Righteous Among the Nations. On April 28, 1996, Yad Vashem recognized their son Roman Pysko as Righteous Among the Nations. File 1478