The former president of the Pan-Albanian Vatra Federation, Dr. Gjon Buçaj has passed away in the United States of America.

VOA reports that Buçaj passed away at the age of 88. Dr. Buçaj contributed to Vatra for decades and was a well-known figure of Albanian-American activism in the United States. 

In an interview with VOA 10 years ago on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Vatra, he spoke about the role of the Federation, the efforts of Albanian-Americans on the issue of Kosovo, as well as the democratization of Albania.