|
Vida J. Bandis
1934 — 2026
Members of the Overseas Marylanders Association (OMA) are saddened by the passing of Vida J. Bandis, in Lithuania. Vida returned to her homeland after four decades as a management and finance leader for University of Maryland University College (UMUC). For the final several years of her career, she was the institution’s executive vice president.
After completing her University of Illinois bachelor’s degree in the mid-1950s until the close of the century, Vida focused her professional life on higher education. From 1956 to 1960, she was the internal auditor for the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. Then, in summer 1960, while she and her husband Joseph were vacationing in Germany and Heidelberg University admitted him to their School of Medicine, they decided to settle in that beautiful city. In November of that year, as Vida was applying for work, the UMUC European Division hired her for the entry-level job of “administrative assistant.”
It did not take long for the European Division to learn that their new employee was talented and hardworking. At the beginning of the year, she was moved to “faculty logistics,” a pivotal position she held for over a decade. In this new role she was responsible not only for getting traveling faculty, who were unaccustomed to Europe and the military, to their assignments at 137 locations in 12 countries but keeping them informed of many things that affected their lives. To do this, Vida developed the Orbiters’ Newsletter, providing instructors with the latest news about billeting charges, flights to the USA, pitfalls of German driving laws, cultural events in Europe, staff travel, upcoming visits to classes by university officials, and more.
Vida so impressed the faculty with her outstanding assistance that they appreciatively dubbed her, “Mother Bandis,” a nickname she kept through the 1960s and early 1970s. These skills were not only recognized in Europe but on the home campus as well. In 1970, UMUC‘s worldwide newspaper Marylander noted that “’Mother Bandis,’ is, like chief coordinator Ellie Seidel in College Park, an expediter without peer.”
In 1972, Vida’s reputation for outstanding performance led the university to bring her to the campus in College Park as a member of UMUC’s Finance Department. After that important experience, Vida returned to Heidelberg to work for the new European Division director, T. Benjamin Massey. In 1973, Dr. Massey appointed her “Assistant to the Director.”
Over the next 25 years of her UMUC career, Vida’s responsibilities continuously broadened and moved upward. Within a year, she became the European Division “Assistant Director, Administration.” From 1978 to 1981, she was the “Assistant Director, Administration and Finance.” In 1981, Vida returned to the College Park home campus to work again with Dr. Massey, who had recently been appointed to lead UMUC as its chancellor. From 1982-1985, Vida was the UMUC “Director of Business and Finance” and from 1985 to 1988 its “Vice Chancellor, Business and Finance.” For the next two years she was “Vice President, Administration” and finally, from 1990 until her 1998 retirement, Vida was the university’s “Executive Vice President.”
Colleagues remember Vida for professionalism, steady leadership and commitment to excellence. Her work significantly strengthened UMUC and its mission to serve American military students around the world. The many overseas Maryland faculty and staff who benefited from and worked with this extraordinary colleague miss her with sadness, appreciation and warm memories.
-------
From the Lithuanian website: Lietuvos nacionalinis radijas ir televizija
Distinguished World Lithuanian Community Member Vida Bandis Passes Away
Vida Julia Bandis, an active US-Lithuanian and distinguished member of the World Lithuanian Community (WLC), has passed away in her 92nd year. Her passing was announced on Tuesday by the World Lithuanian Community.
"It is with deep sadness that we say goodbye to a prominent figure of both the diaspora and Lithuania—our colleague and friend, Vida Bandis. Her life was inspiring, filled with dedication not only to the World Lithuanian Community, sports, education, and science, but also marked by responsibility and a firm moral compass. She united people, strengthened ties, and left a significant mark on our collective work," expressed Dalia Henke, Chair of the WLC.
Biography and Career
Born in Molėtai on November 28, 1934, Vida emigrated to the USA during World War II. She completed her secondary education there, earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois, a Master’s from Ball State University, and completed doctoral studies at the University of Maryland.
For over 40 years, she worked as a finance and management specialist in higher education, serving as the Executive Vice President of University of Maryland University College. Between 1960 and 1999, she lived and worked in both Germany and the USA.
Return to Lithuania
In 1999, she returned to Lithuania, where she served as:
- Director of the Financial Policy Department at the Ministry of Education and Science.
- Director of the Support Center for Foreign Lithuanians.
- Director of the Baltic Management Institute.
- From 2009 to 2022, she served as the pro bono representative of the World Lithuanian Community in Lithuania.
Awards and Recognition
For her lifelong service, she was honored with:
- 2018: The Officer's Cross of the Order "For Merits to Lithuania."
- 2019: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' medal "For Merits of World Lithuanians to Lithuania."
- 2022: The Global Lithuania Award for "Lifetime Achievement."
Official Condolences
President Gitanas Nausėda described her as an example of how Lithuanians abroad contribute to strengthening the country and fostering ties with the diaspora. Speaker of the Seimas (Parliament), Juozas Olekas, stated: "We have lost an exceptional personality who dedicated her entire life to Lithuania and the strengthening of the global Lithuanian fellowship. Her contribution to education and the strengthening of the state leaves a lasting legacy."
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kęstutis Budrys, added: "Vida Bandis’s entire life was an example of exceptional dedication to the Homeland. She used the academic and professional experience gained in the USA to foster our country’s growth, choosing a path of responsible service to an independent Lithuania."
Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) also expressed condolences, noting her role as a VMU Council member (2010–2015) and her help in organizing the 16th World Lithuanian Symposium on Arts and Sciences.
 
https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2912339/prominent-lithuanian-diaspora-activist-vida-bandis-passes-away-at-91?srsltid=AfmBOoqu_UWDjbJswxkklOgg
|
Vernon Taylor
It took me some time to find the strength to write something about Vida Bandis, because she was one of the Mrylanders that had such a major impact on my life.
I remember being 22 years old, at the time one of the youngest of the Heidelburg group, just getting out of the military and beginning my journey in higher education. Vida was part of the group that embraced me, encouraged me, and helped me believe I belonged.
She was tough, but she was also humorous, warm, and consoling. One memory I will always cherish is when she allowed me to pretend to be her in a skit at a holiday celebration. That moment showed her humor, confidence, and kindness.
Vida was a leader, a mentor, and a remarkable person. I am grateful that she was part of my journey. Her impact will always remain with me.
Rest in peace, Vida, and thank you for everything.
Joe Arden
The "In Memory" section of the OMA website accurately details Vida Bandis' remarkable career with the University of Maryland. No more need be added. I would like, though, to pass on a few personal memories of Vida — from over the decades.
I met Vida in August 1970 at the Frankfurt airport. She was there to greet that year's new faculty — which included me. I was transferring to Europe after three years with the then Far East Division. Beginning with the New Faculty Orientation, Vida and I got along quite well. But, during AY 1970-71, our contact was limited because most of the year, I was in Turkey and Italy and never taught in the immediate Heidelberg area.
In AY 1971-72, I became an Area Director with the European Division. During the next more than 25 years, I worked closely with Vida Bandis. We were together in Heidelberg (1971-1975 and again in early 1981). Then throughout the 1980s and 1990s — when she was in College Park and I in Heidelberg or Tokyo —- our close working/friendship relationship continued.
Some observations and memories:
--- As explained in Vida's "in Memory" posting, European Division faculty of the 1960s knew Vida very well. Certainly so did ED staff of the 1970s. The same with UMUC staff in College Park in the 1980s and 1990s. But in something of a dichotomy, overseas faculty of the 1980s and 1990s probably had little contact with Vida and indeed, may never have met her.
--- Vida loved cars. The faster the better. Most of all, she loved Porsche sports cars and during the years I knew her in Heidelberg, she always owned one. Always drove it Very Fast. Heidelberg to Munich in two and a half hours was child's play for Vida. Actually —- she claimed once (leaving Heidelberg after midnight) to have made the trip in two hours. I always declined her offers of lifts.
--- As a fair number of Marylanders can attest, working with Vida was not always a walk in the park. She was often quite direct. Nor did she suffer fools gladly. Furthermore, she began to speak English only in her mid-teens when she came to Chicago. Thus, at times, she could come across as being more critical/harsh than perhaps was necessarily intended.
--- True story: In the early 2000s, when living in Lithuania, Vida was invited to a Rostropovich concert in Moscow. Three months or so before the concert, she applied for a visa at the Russian Embassy. About a month before she was to depart, Vida realized she had not received back her passport with the visa. She calls the Russian Embassy and is told she must also submit a photo. She was quite sure she had already done so but went ahead and forwarded another photo.
--- About a week before —- still no passport/visa. Vida called again. A somewhat embarrassed voice explained "Mrs. Bandis, we need a recent photo.” Rather than argue, Vida hand-carried a photo of herself holding a newspaper of that date. The Russian Embassy had simply not thought —- given the age indicated in her passport —- that anyone could possibly look so young.
--- I last saw Vida in late November 2024. Timed my visit to Vilnius to be there for her 90th birthday. Stayed across the street from her exquisite apartment on the oldest and most traditional street in Vilnius . We dined together on each of the three nights I was there. I last spoke with her a few days before her passing. We discussed the upcoming OMA Gathering in Heidelberg.
--- Vida had planned to come.