Longtime Panevėžys district municipal council member Kazimieras Algirdas Budrys dies

Kazimieras Algirdas Budrys, a longtime member of the Panevėžys district municipal council, has died at the age of 63, the local authority announced on Monday.

Born in Tyumen, Russia, on October 26, 1962, Budrys was the son of a pedagogue, writer, and publicist. His father, Benediktas Budrys (pen name Vytenis), was a participant in Lithuania’s anti-Soviet resistance. In his youth, Budrys was an active athlete, becoming a judo master of sport in the USSR between 1981–1982. He graduated from the Lithuanian University of Agriculture in 1984 with a degree in agronomy.

Following Lithuania’s restoration of independence, he volunteered in national defence efforts before dedicating his career to agriculture and local community work. From 1995 to 2000, he served as elder of Upytė eldership, and from 2000 onward, he was repeatedly elected to the Panevėžys district municipal council. Since 2023, he had held the position of opposition leader in the council.

Budrys also served as deputy chair of the Rural Affairs, Health, and Social Issues Committee and was a member of the Rural Support Fund, the Humanitarian Aid Commission, the Family Council, and the municipal collegium. His work focused on addressing the daily concerns of rural residents, including access to social services, healthcare, and improved living conditions. Colleagues remembered him as a straightforward, attentive, and helpful figure.

A member of the Homeland Union–Lithuanian Christian Democrats, Budrys was also known for his active lifestyle, enjoying skiing, fishing, and maintaining his health through sports. He is survived by his wife, Ada, and three underage children.

A farewell ceremony will be held on Monday from 2 p.m. in the Upytė parish hall. A funeral Mass will take place at Upytė Church on Tuesday at 1 p.m., followed by interment at Molėtai Cemetery.