“Gerti, where are you going?” I asked, coming across Gerti Bogdani on Tirana Boulevard, Albania, on a hot Saturday (Sabbath) afternoon in the summer of 2012,“I am going to church to get baptized,” he answered.“Really?” I replied, unable to hide my surprise. “Yes, I decided it just now. I have already completed Bible studies but never found the courage to get baptized before.… Twenty minutes ago, when I learned that there was a baptismal ceremony at church, I went home, grabbed a bag with some clothes, and came back to be baptized by my pastor Julian Kastrati. I heard the voice of Jesus calling me today.”
Many leaders from the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s Adriatic Union Conference (AUC) and the Trans-European Division (TED) were present at Gerti’s baptism, including its then-president, Bertil Wiklander.
I will always cherish that chance encounter on that hot summer day in Tirana, while I was on holiday with my Albanian wife, Irida.
Gerti Bogdani passed away suddenly from cardiac arrest on September 18. He was 44 years old.
Gerti will be remembered for his brilliant mind, kind heart, and profound sensitivity. He was deeply in love with his wife, Edlira, and together they had two children, Aira and Reinart.
His exceptional character was evident at his state funeral, where people from all walks of life — from high-ranking state officials and members of Parliament to religious leaders and thousands of Albanians — came to pay their respects.
As a devoted Adventist, Gerti was a model of integrity and faith, honoring his church and community through his exemplary conduct. We honor the memory of a beloved brother and friend who committed his life to Jesus, and we look forward to seeing him again in the kingdom of heaven.
About Gerti Bogdani
Gerti Jusuf Bogdani (July 7, 1980 — September 18, 2024) was an Albanian politician and, at the time of his first election, one of the youngest mayors in the country’s history. He graduated with distinction from the University of New York, earning a gold medal. Bogdani began his political career in 2007, running for the Democratic Party and winning in Municipality Unit No. 10 in the capital city, Tirana. In 2009, he was elected to the Albanian Parliament, serving until 2017.
In 2011, he was elected vice president of the International Young Democrat Union (IYDU), and in January 2012 he became its president. By September 2015, Gerti had been elected chair of the IYDU at a congress in Lisbon, Portugal, becoming the first Albanian politician to achieve such a prestigious role in an international organization.
A committed Seventh-day Adventist, Bogdani was a strong advocate for Christian values and actively supported various Christian causes in Albania.
The original version of this story was posted on the Trans-European Division news site.
