Nada Ljubić (Đurđević)
06.03.1954 - 05.09.2024
Nada Ljubić, born in Loznica and passed away in Belgrade, was a journalist, researcher, and one of the key figures in documenting the truth about the Jasenovac camp. Through her work, she left an indelible mark on the preservation of historical memory.
Education and Professional Path
She graduated and earned her master's degree at the Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Belgrade, obtaining the title of Master of Political Sciences. This academic foundation gave her depth, precision, and analytical strength that marked her entire career.
As a journalist, she worked for numerous Serbian newspapers, magazines, and radio stations. In every media outlet she was recognized for her professional ethics, thoroughness, and quiet but powerful dedication to the truth.
In addition to her work in journalism and research, Nada was a translator of many books. Through her translations she brought important texts and knowledge to a wider audience, contributing to the accessibility of historiographical literature and education.
Contribution to the Culture of Remembrance
Nada Ljubić was:
- founder and director of the Association Memorial Center Jasenovac in Belgrade,
- long-time director of the Jasenovac Research Institute (JRI) in New York.
Through these institutions she led one of the most important missions in the territory of the former Yugoslavia and beyond: the systematic collection and preservation of testimonies of Jasenovac survivors.
With her tireless work, she recorded the largest number of interviews with Jasenovac survivors of any journalist or researcher. These conversations, conducted with exceptional tact, empathy, and professionalism, today represent key primary historical sources and rank among the most valuable documents about the suffering in the Independent State of Croatia (NDH).
What she preserved was not only facts — but human experience, voice, and dignity of those who survived.
Her contribution was not limited to collecting testimonies: she organized educational events, public commemorations, and meetings of survivors — all in the spirit of truth, responsibility, and remembrance.
A Person Loved and Respected
Besides being an exceptional professional, Nada was also a devoted mother and grandmother. Her sons and grandchildren remember her for her kindness, wisdom, modesty, and inner strength. Just as in her work, so in life — she was steady, warm, and reliable.