Romanas Chodakauskas
[2] Romanas’ grandfather, Casimir, and his father, Antanas, leased land at Žvanagala estate, owned by the Dokalski family.
[4] At Gavėnonių Estate Romanas' parents had three daughters - Sofija Chodakauskaitė (1884-1968), Kazimierza (1888-1889) and Jadvyga (1889-1959) - and one more son - Tadas Chodakauskas (1889-1959).
They studied foreign languages, read a variety of literature, were interested in music, stressed fair-mindedness and had wide-ranging views.
During summer vacations, Jablonskis collected information from native speakers in Lithuania for his linguistic studies.
[9] Romanas’ father invited Lithuanian students, recommended by Jablonskis, to teach his children.
[11][12] Romanas was studying in preparation for the entrance exams to Jelgava Gymnasium and Smetona, being from a poor, farming background, needed the work.
[14] In particular, Lithuanian language and culture was openly promoted by Jablonskis, with whom Smetona developed a close friendship.
When Sofija and Jadvyga were studying, their mother Marija-Johana, spent a few years in a rented apartment in Jelgava with the girls.
On December 16, 1913, he married Janina Turaitė-Jacunskiėne (b.1884) in the Lithuanian Evangelical Reformed Church (Pylimo gatvė 18, Vilnius).
On August 20, 1914, Romanas’ first child, Miroslavas (1914-1952) was born at Topolis, Kupiškis region, Lithuania, the home of his wife's parents.
In 1917 he served in the Lithuanian Exiles General Representative Office in Ukraine where he acted on behalf of the Lietuvos Tarybos (the Council of Lithuania).
[18] In August 1918 Romanas was dispatched by the Council of Lithuania on a diplomatic mission to Germany to assist with returning Lithuanian Prisoners of War held in that country.
The Council of Lithuania appointed him as the representative in Ukraine, to deal with the return of war refugees and exiles.
[18] As the Germans retreated, Romanas returned to Gomel, at that time part of the Ukrainian State.
[18] Before leaving, he organized the Minsk Lithuanian Exiles’ Committee.On January 27, 1919, Romanas was awarded the rank of captain.
[18] Romanas served in Berlin as the Military Attaché at the Lithuanian Embassy under Jurgis Šaulys (1879-1948), who was appointed Lithuania's first minister extraordinary and plenipotentiary in Germany on November 23, 1918.
[18] On September 15, 1926, Romanas was awarded the rank of colonel in the Military Court, and then on October 1, 1926, due to health concerns, he was transferred to the Reserves.
[18][25] Romanas was a member of arguably the most respected, powerful and well-connected family in interwar Lithuania.
His sister, Sofija Smetonienė, was an active player in the woman's movement and married to Antanas Smetona, the first and long-standing President of Lithuania.
Romanas’ other sister, Jadvyga Tūbelienė, was one of the founders of the Lithuanian Council of Women, a writer, diplomat and married to Juozas Tūbelis, the long-standing Prime Minister of Lithuania.
His cousin, Gabrielė Petkevičiatė-Bitė, was an active worker in social rights and one of the foremost writers in the country.
On June 22, 1928, Romanas married Wanda Łukaszewicz (née Gryffin) at Vytautas' the Great Church in Kaunas.
Romanas was buried at the Old City Cemetery, on Vytauto prospektas, Kaunas - now Ramybės park.
Writer and priest Juozas Tumas-Vaižgantas (1869–1933) and University of Lithuania law professor Petras Leonas (1864-1938) spoke at the grave.
