Iacob Haller as a young man

This is my husband, Iacob Haller, as a young man. It was some sort of official document, as it reads on the back: "We hereby certify the identity of Mr. Haller Iacob." It also bears an official stamp, it is signed by a certain director and by my husband. I think it was my husband who gave me this photograph, as it also reads: "26th January1946. To my most precious jewel as a souvenir, Iacob."

My husband was recommended to me by David Kesler, my cousin in Dorohoi. My husband was a teacher in Dorohoi, and my cousin knew him well. My cousin came with him to our house in Botosani. I went out with him for a walk, and [on returning] when he entered the house, he said: 'We are engaged.' And actually it wasn't long afterwards that we got married. We saw and liked each other. At first sight. We knew details about each other beforehand from this cousin of mine. I knew what he did for a living, what sort of person he was, how he conducted himself. Mother was very fond of him.

His name was Iacob Haller, he was from Siret. He was 1 year older than me, he was born in 1914. He graduated the Faculty of Natural Sciences in Cernauti. At the time when I met my husband, his parents weren't alive anymore. They were 2 siblings: his sister and him. His sister's name was Rebeca. She lived with my mother after I got married. And she left to Israel afterwards. She didn't marry.

We got married in 1946. My husband obtained a transfer from the high school in Dorohoi to the "A. T. Laurian" High School in Botosani, and it wasn't long before he became principal of the "A. T. Laurian" High School. He was principal for a few years. He wasn't a party member - nor was I. He taught biology. He was known to be a good teacher. He was on the board of examiners for the baccalaureate examination, he was a highly esteemed teacher. He worked at the "A. T. Laurian" High School until his retirement. He retired around 1972-1973. And he departed [died] in 1996 and that's that.

Photos from this interviewee