On April 11, 1950, Aristidh Ruçi (1875–1950) passed away in Vlora. He was born in Sheper, Zagoria. He got his first lessons at the village school, then he moved to Ioannina to attend high school at the “Zosimea” gymnasium. For a period of 2 years, he lived in Istanbul and returned to Ioannina during the years 1899-1904. These movements gave him the opportunity to come into contact with great figures, such as Naim Frashëri, Shahin Kolonja or Jani Vruho. In 1906, he settled in the city of Vlora to stay there until the end of his life, where he became one of the city’s best-known merchants. Aristidh Ruçi turned into an important figure with a wide national activity. In 1908 he became a member of the patriotic club “Labëria” of Vlora. His name is related to efforts to spread the Albanian language. In the National Assembly, on November 28, 1912, he was a delegate from Tepelena and a signatory of the Declaration of Independence. He was among the founders of the “National Defense” committee that helped organize the Vlora War (1920). In the momentum of this war, the patriotic society “Përlindja Kombëtare” was created, where the commission charged Aristidh Ruçi and some other patriots with the drafting of its regulations. During the following years, he was involved in the democratic life of the country, such as the federation “Atdheu” and the society “Bashkimi”. In 1937, he was elected as a member of the board of directors of the National Bank of Albania. During the occupation, as a result of the anti-fascist activity, he was arrested and exiled to Italy. Upon his return to Albania, he was arrested by the communist regime on charges of being a large-scale merchant. After two years of imprisonment, he was released, but everything he owned, including household belongings, was confiscated. (In the photo: Aristidh Ruçi)
Text: “House of Leaves” National Museum
Photo: © https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristidh_Ru%C3%A7i
Graphic processing: AHCF
