September 13, 2014

A Closer Look (Part 6)


Kaunas, Lithuania, about 1925. I linger on this photo because it's the only one we have in which my paternal Grandparents, Tatjana and Vytautas, appear together (I exclude this composite).

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Have you ever considered doing a...I don't know, a mini-biography of Tatjana? From what you've posted here, it sounds like her life was fascinating. Often difficult, in some moments tragic, but fascinating.

--Nora

Irene said...

Hi Nora, I have thought about it, but I've posted most everything I know here. At some pint, I should do a chronological post, with links, filling in any missing details (example: she got my Dad out of a prison camp by dressing him as a woman, and she and he left, posing as if they both were older, female visitors).

Did you ever meet her? She died in July 1974. You and I were friends by then, but I don't know if you had ever been to the house before that date.

edutcher said...

As always, very pensive.

She sounds, however, like a very resourceful and daring lady.

Anonymous said...

I don't remember meeting her, but then I was a carefree, callow teenager at the time. :-)

I thought my own grandmother's life had been eventful - immigrating from East Prussia before she was 5, having to become hyper-patriotic during WW I due to her German heritage, losing a sister to Spanish flu - but hers was calm and settled compared to your grandmother's!

--Nora

Irene said...

Nora, the "callow and carefree" part made me laugh. Our circle was so studious and intense. Did you know Mrs. B still teaches freshman World Civilizations?

From where in a East Prussia did your Grandmother emigrate? My Mom's paternal Grandparents (Wanda and Cody) lived near the Prussian border.

Anonymous said...

We have a couple of pre-immigration photos from a studio in Thorn (now Torun, Poland). That's pretty much all I know, except that Great-grandpa was hot to leave because he didn't want to have to serve another stint in the Kaiser's army.

--Nora

Irene said...

I checked the map; it's not close to Taurege. You should scan the photos sometime!