Sterlitamak 1951 - 1956

In 1951 Larisa's husband, Grigory Finkelstein, was released from Gulag upon completing his 10-year term, and sent to a place of permanent settlement of former inmates, Sterlitamak, by the Urals, where he was supposed to remain for the rest of his life.

Larisa went to join him there.

In Sterlitamak Larisa worked in high school, again teaching foreign languages and Russian language and literature and her husband worked as an engineer at a chemical plant. It was a poisonous environment - harsh climate and a lot of industrial fallout. The population mostly consisted of local drunks, former inmates and some 'lucky' college graduates, placed there for their first jobs.

        Below are the photographs of Larisa and Grigoriy from 1951 - 1952

 

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My father's mom, Rosa, and Larochka are visiting (Rosa from Moscow and Larochka - from Lvov). 

They came the long way on the train together and got along famously. 

Note:You can see a piece of embroidery in Larisa's hands. This is how she entertained herself. She embroidered quite a few pillows and I still have some of the well-worn embroidery. 

The embroidery Larisa is holding in her hands in the photo above, 66 years later.

The rest of Larisa's surviving embroideries

Gifted with unique optimism and positive outlook, my mom always described the place as a little haven of intelligentsia, good relationships and a nice two-room apartment.  Her job was right across the street. So, when I was born in 1952, it was possible for her to work full time as a teacher and care for me.

Below are some picture including me from 1952-1956.

I do have a vague memory of Sterlitamak and most of it are memories of my mother telling me stories and reading me books.

Blessedly, Stalin died in 1953. In 1956, my father was cleared of all charges, together with millions of other Gulagers. He was allowed to relocate to the place where he had been arrested, Kiev.