“I like people as they are

with love and a painful thorn in the soul,

with wounds that will bring happiness

with friendship that will not disturb anything.”

Ján Ličko

February 4, 2025, 11:05 p.m. – late evening, and my mobile phone rang. I knew that I had received a message. Usually at such a time, not only am I already dozing, but also my silent mobile phone. This time I did not have time to turn it off, and so my curiosity, who was writing to me, almost at midnight, was stronger than the incipient sleep.

“My Janko left for eternity today”. I was overcome by sadness; my hazy gaze blurred all the letters on the display. Another prominent pedagogical figure in the education of the blind has passed away.

The last time we met Janko and his older daughter Janka was in the renovated premises of the Levoča Town Hall at the launch of the Anthology of Blind Poets entitled Seen from the Unseen. In October of last year, a community of poetry and prose lovers met in the beautiful historical premises, among whom was Ján Ličko. The author of the project and the compiler of the book was Milan Resutík, who returned to Levoča after 60 years and, I quote, “I was burning with curiosity whether any of the people I had fallen in love with for the rest of my life were still alive.” They were indeed alive…. He learned that they were, and so began the journey of contacting blind poets, compiling a selection of their literary work, etc. But I digress. Yes, one of the authors was also Ján Ličko, a blind poet and typhlologist.

It hurts, but… life is like that.

I have known Janko since I was 19 years old (1987), when I started my first job. We met at work, at the meetings of the editorial boards of the editorial board of magazines for the blind of the Matej Hrebenda Slovak Library for the Blind in Levoča. I, a novice editor, he, a long-time typhoid pedagogue, working at the Rehabilitation Center for the Visually Impaired in Levoča, an expert in Braille, a contributor to blind periodicals.

The Life of Ján Ličko

Ján Ličko was born on October 25, 1933, in Beňuš in Horehronie. Unfortunately, his childhood, connected with nature, work, willingness, and helping loved ones in the village, was interrupted by World War II, which extinguished the light in his eyes. He also lost his right hand. He did not give up, quite the opposite. With the support of his loved ones, he embarked on a struggle with his unfortunate fate at the age of 12 and went to a school for the blind in Levoča. He did not give up his desire to study, and for his determination, he found understanding from teachers and at home.

In the years 1950-1958, he was the first blind person in Slovakia to complete secondary and university studies in pedagogical specialization. From 1959, he taught at the Elementary Boarding School for the Blind in Levoča. In the years 1963-1967, in addition to his job, he studied pedagogy of the visually impaired and Russian language at Comenius University in Bratislava. He was a co-author of many textbooks for students of the Elementary School for the Blind in Levoča, prepared recitation competitions, led chess clubs, sang in a choir, and published various professional and popular articles in blind magazines. While searching for and processing some topics for the Museum of Special Education in Levoča, published in the magazine Nový život, I came across a series presenting countries of the world, authors’ medallions of jubilant special educators, obituaries, all written by Ján Ličko.

His life changed significantly when he happily married his colleague and friend Vierka, née Sadloňová, who considered the upbringing and education of blind children to be her lifelong mission. They enriched their marital bond with a bond that connected them to the world of education for the blind, publishing in blind periodicals, creating textbooks, manuals, and handbooks, the addressees of which were the blind themselves, whether in adulthood or school age.

In marriage, they had two beautiful daughters – Janka and Veronika, now adults, with their own families, but always overflowing with love and help for their parents.

Even before the establishment of the Rehabilitation Center for the Visually Impaired in Levoča, in the premises of the current elementary school for the blind, Braille courses were held for those interested in learning Braille. One of the teachers was Ján Ličko.

Janko is empathetic, educated, guiding, and helping others, but is less courageous. There are always some among us, and some among us, but let’s never make differences, because everyone has the right to education, unless we have to give someone courage. That’s how Janko perceived it.

His expertise and humanity were appreciated by many. On May 8, 1975, he received the Exemplary Teacher award from the hands of the then Minister of Education of the Slovak Socialist Republic, Ing. Štefan Chochoľ.

The award did not change anything. He remained humble, continuing to help.

In the following years (1976-2004), he and his wife moved to the newly established Rehabilitation Center for the Visually Impaired in Levoča, which opened its doors on September 1, 1977. They became involved in the creation of curricula and plans, as well as other pedagogical documentation.

In 1986, after successfully completing rigorous exams, he received the title of Doctor of Pedagogy. He worked at the RSZP until his retirement in 2004. He worked as a teacher for a wonderful 46 years.

His greatest love was his wife and daughters. He experienced love with his whole being, and it gradually took root in his verses. Love in all its forms and poetry was a balm, joy, a band-aid in difficult moments, and sometimes even the fear of his heart.

Poetry accompanied him since childhood, when he recited, read, and at first created it virtually. Later, he also wrote, but not with the aim of publishing. He was encouraged by the doctor. PhDr. Imrich Vašek, CSc., m. prof. of the Catholic University in Ružomberok, who suggested to Janka not only the title of his first collection, but also its publication (Srdce do dlaní, 2005).

In 2014, another, second poetry collection, titled Testimonies and Challenge, was published, which he dedicated to his wife, children, family, friends, and all kindred spirits who tirelessly accompanied, encouraged, and supported Janek and his work.

The third, last, and at the same time joint collection of poetry and prose by the Ličkos is Zrkadlo života from 2020. In addition to Janka’s poetic work with the apt title Bolí, čo by měsmelo, the collection was enriched this time with short stories written by his wife Vierka with the separate title Spomienky po rokotů – alejo mój život s vividiacimi. 139 pages of verses, stories connected with their full and varied lives. The lives of spouses, teachers, parents, grandparents, and friends who love life are intertwined with love, joys, sorrows, experiences, and fears for those closest to them. Simply life, the ordinary one that we receive in a wreath and which we lose after years.

An empty chair remains at the table, a plate with cutlery, an unread book in Braille, sadness in the hearts of loved ones and friends…

I am grateful to fate that I was lucky enough to personally know this extraordinary person.

Janko, thank you for the pleasant meetings in the library or museum, the enriching conversations, and your poetry collections with dedications.

Rest in peace, Janko!

Author: Mgr. Štefánia Petreková

Sources:

Ličko, Ján: Heart in the palm of your hand, 1st edition. Kežmarok: Tlačiareň Kežmarok GG, s. r. o., 2005, p. 86. ISBN 80-88903-73-4.

Ličko, Ján: Testimonies and Challenge, 1st edition. Turany: Scepusium, 2014, p. 123. ISBN 978-80-971814-0-6.

Ličkovci, Viera and Ján: Mirror of Life, 1st edition. Kežmarok: Tlačiareň Kežmarok GG, s. r. o., 2020, p. 139. ISBN 978-80-89701-54-4.

Magazine Nový život No. 10, year 2023, volume 2, ISSN 2729-9473.

Magazine Nový život No. 6, year 2024, volume 3, ISSN 2729-9473.

Photos: archive of the Museum of Special Education in Levoča and the Slovak Library for the Blind M. Hrebenda in Levoča