A tribute to Damian
Damian Soból
Whether Damian Soból was picking you up at the airport and meeting you for the first time or you were a close friend having a cry, he made you feel like family. That’s how the colleagues who worked most closely with the Polish humanitarian remember him. Damian always knew how to relieve the tension in the room after an exhausting day of providing aid around the world, with a little joke or one of his famous hugs.
Damian was from Przemyśl, Poland where on day one of the Russian invasion of Ukraine he was volunteering to support refugees arriving at the train station. When World Central Kitchen established its Relief Kitchen in Przemyśl, Damian quickly became an integral member of the WCK team. Colleagues remember countless people dropping by daily to give Damian, Przemyśl’s seemingly unofficial mayor, a hug and a hello. Damian’s connection to the community and his insatiable drive to serve was irreplaceable in Poland, Ukraine, and numerous other WCK responses.
His friends say he was very proud to be both Polish and a true global citizen. Damian’s work with World Central Kitchen took him to Greece following wildfires, and to Morocco and Türkiye after devastating earthquakes. His expertise in construction, logistics, and connecting with people made him a natural leader.
No matter where he was in the world, Damian could find or fix whatever was necessary—even if he had to build something from scratch. “We don’t have problems, we have solutions,” was his most common refrain. He was the builder, plumber, welder, electrician, engineer, boss, confidant, friend, and teammate. Nearly anyone he worked with would tell you he’s the closest thing to a superhero.
In Gaza, Damian worked tirelessly to make the impossible possible through innovation. Among countless feats, he helped install a water filtration system on the roof of one of our largest kitchens and supported the team in serving millions of Palestinians in search of safety and a warm meal.
Outside of his humanitarian work, Damian was a talented soccer player, successful business owner, and beloved partner, son, stepson, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, and nephew. He was wise beyond his years at just 35 and put everyone at ease with his kindness, patience, and laughter. He was pure joy, with the best smile. If he saw anyone in need of love or comfort, it simply poured out of him.