The death of Costache Oprișan
Costache Oprișan crossed the threshold of this life in July 1958. Those of us who were in the cell furthest away from Costache Oprișan noticed some unusual noises in Casimcă. I felt a pang in my heart that Costache Oprișan, whom I knew to be very ill with tuberculosis, might have died. I didn’t hear the poisonous news right away, but a little later, in circumstances I don’t remember. I said one thing then and I say it now:
It will take a long time for such moral and intellectual courage to emerge from the ranks of Romanian youth! God has willed that the meek land of the country should receive a new seed of elite.
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Oprișan was a great teacher. He was cultured and intelligent, with a gentle and pleasant modesty. It will be a long time before such a great person will emerge from the ranks of Romanian youth.
(Octavian Voinea – The Massacre of Romanian Students, by Gheorghe Andreica)