The Fleischer Family in the Cultural life of Bjelovar

Dolazak Alojzija Fleischera (1802. – 1873.) u Bjelovar, kao organista katoličke župne crkve u Bjelovaru (početak 19. st.) značilo je i njegovo uključivanje u prve aktivnosti kulturnog razvoja toga hrvatskog gradića u istočnom području tadašnje Austro – Ugarske. Fleischerov život obilježen je dugogodišnjom, predanom i marljivom, prije svega glazbenom, djelatnošću u njemu novoj sredini po narodnosti, mentalitetu, običajima i podneblju. Zabilježena je i njegova aktivnost zborovođe, glazbenog učitelja, širitelja mnogih narodnih, popularnih i domoljubnih pjesama na početku hrvatskoga narodnog preporoda, a mnoge je od tih pjesama i ukajdio. Odanost je novoj domovini A. Fleischer prenio i na svoga najstarijeg sina Gustava Fleischera (Bjelovar, 1857. – 1913.), koji je završio studij kemije na Politehničkoj visokoj školi u Grazu. G. Fleischer višestruko je obilježio razvoj kul turnog života u Bjelovaru. Bio je dvadeset godina ravnatelj bjelovarske Realne gimnazije pridonijevši, među ostalim, proširenju gimnazije višim razredima i uvođenjem velike mature. Istakao se kao svestrani nastavnik te mnogim objavljenim radovima. Preveo je s njemačkoga dva udžbenika kemije i napisao više kraćih naputaka za učenje. Među prvima se zauzimao za „obostrano naučavanje djevojčica i dječaka“ što je tada bila avangardna zamisao i tu je ideju popratio mnogim objavljenim raspravama. Osobito je značajan njegov doprinos arheologiji, praktičnoj farmaciji, slikarstvu, kompoziciji, muziciranju i dr. Istakao se i u organizatorskim aktivnostima kao inicijator, suosnivač i dugogodišnji glavni urednik lokalnih novina Tjednik bjelovarsko-križevački. Bio je zborovođa bjelovarskoga glazbenog društva Dvojnice, sudjelovao u osnivanju školske i bolničke knjižnice te pomagao školovanje siromašnih učenika. Jedna od triju njegovih kćeri Ida (1882. – 1915.) istakla se također kao amaterska slikarica. Ida je imala dvoje djece (kćerku Vlastu i sina Raoula). Dva Gustavova unuka, ing. Raoul Sabljak (1910. – 1975.), stručnjak za gradnju hidroelektrana i ing. Aleksandar Johanides (1911. – 1990.), stručnjak u kemijskoj industriji, otišli su rano iz Bjelovara, a obojica su u svojim strukama imala mnogo uspjeha u zemlji i inozemstvu. Od obitelji Fleischer–Sabljak dvije kćeri R. Sabljaka (praunuke G. Fleischera) žive izvan Hrvatske. Jedini i zadnji potomak obitelji Fleischer-Sabljak u Hrvatskoj (kći Vlaste Sabljak-Lisac) je dr. sc. Inga Lisac, koja živi u Zagrebu. U Bjelovaru još postoji grob obitelji Fleischer u glavnoj aleji staroga groblja sv. Andrije.Alojzije Fleischer’s arrival to Bjelovar (1802 – 1873) as the organist of the catholic parish church in Bjelovar (beginning of the 19th century) meant his inclusion into the first activities of the cultural development of this small Croatian town in the eastern territory of the then Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. Fleischer’s life is characterised with long, devoted and studious musical activity in the surroundings new to him for its nationality, mentality, customs, and climate. His activity as a conductor of a choir society, music teacher, promoter of many folk, popular, patriotic songs at the beginning of the Croatian National Revival was written down, and many of these songs were written in musical notebooks. The loyalty to his new country A. Fleischer transferred to his oldest son Gustav Fleischer (Bjelovar 1857 – 1913), who had finished chemistry at the Polytechnic Academy in Graz. G. Fleischer noted in many ways the development of cultural life in Bjelovar. For twenty years he was a Principal of Bjelovar’s Grammar school and he contributed, among other things, to the expansion of the grammar school to higher classes and to baccalaureate. He distinguished himself as an excellent teacher and through many published works. He translated from German two chemistry student class books and wrote several shorter instructions on how to study better. He was among the first to stand for “mutual education of boys and girls”, which was at that time an avant-garde concept, and he followed this idea with many published discussions. His contribution to archaeology, practical pharmacy, painting, composition, music, and etc. is of great importance. He distinguished himself in organisational activities as an initiator, cofounder, and long time chief editor of the local newspapers Bjelovarsko-Križevački Weekly. He was the conductor of Bjelovar’s choir society Dvojnice, he participated in the establishment of the school and hospital library and he helped the education of deprived students. One of his three daughters, Ida (1882 – 1915), distinguished herself as an amateur painter. Ida had two children (her daughter Vlasta and son Raoul). The two Gustav’s grandchildren, engineer Raoul Sabljak (1910-1975), the expert for the construction of hydro-electric power plants and engineer Aleksandar Johanides (1911 – 1990), the expert in chemical industry, left Bjelovar early, and both of them had great success in their professions in Croatia and abroad. From the Fleischer-Sabljak family two daughters of R. Sabljak (great-grand daughters of G. Fleischer) lived outside of Croatia. The one and only descendant of the Fleischer-Sabljak family in Croatia (the daughter of Vlasta Sabljak-Lisac) is dr. sc. Inga Lisac, who lives in Zagreb. In Bjelovar there still exists the tomb of the Fleischer family in the main alley of the old St. Andrew cemetery