Western Thrace mourns the loss of “Tevfik Hoca”

His funeral will take place tomorrow (Monday, September 8) following the afternoon prayer at the Yeni Mahalle Cemetery in Gümülcine.

A Life Dedicated to Education and Culture

Born in 1936 in the village of Kirazlı near Gümülcine, Hüseyinoğlu lost his parents at a young age and faced hardship early in life. He grew up during the difficult years of Bulgarian rule and the Greek Civil War. Starting school at the age of nine, he completed his primary education in Susurköy, continued at the Medrese-i Hayriye, and later attended Celal Bayar High School.

In 1967, he graduated from Ankara University Faculty of Theology and, later that year, was appointed as a teacher at the Muzaffer Salihoğlu Minority High School in İskeçe. He served there as a teacher of Religious Culture and Ethics for 35 years, retiring in 2003.

Contributions to Literature

Beyond his work in education, Hüseyinoğlu also made important contributions to literature. His translation of Antonis Samarakis’s novel Danger Signal marked the first time a work by a Greek author had been translated into Turkish by a Western Thracian Turk.

He also authored original works, including the novel Meslek Borcu (Professional Duty), co-authored the research book The Western Thrace Turkish Minority in the Greek Civil War (1946–1949) with Rahmi Ali, and published a collection titled Selections from My Past Writings.

A Respected Figure in the Minority Community

Hüseyinoğlu also served as president of the Association of Higher Education Graduates of the Western Thrace Minority. Through his dedication to both education and culture, he left a lasting mark on the community.

The Millet Newspaper extends its condolences to his family and loved ones. May he rest in peace.