Ilia Rozenfeld’s wife Yelena Rozenfeld and son Alexandr Rozenfeld

My wife Yelena Rozenfeld and my grandson Dmitriy Rozenfeld. This photo was taken during a walk in Kiev in 1980.

In 1947 my wife Yelena went to her first job in the laboratory of the Podol district hospital where she worked for 50 years from then on. Alexandr had all excellent marks at school. There was the atmosphere of friendship and trust in our family, like there was in my father's house. We also socialized with our relatives. Once a year we visited my mother and aunts in Poltava. Ania's cousin sisters from Poltava and brother Yuriy from Moscow visited us. We also traveled to Moscow. We lived like all other Soviet intelligentsia families: from one pay day to another. We didn't have a car or a dacha, but our family spent vacations at the seashore in the Crimea or Caucasus every year.

In 1978 our son Alexandr defended his candidate dissertation, and in 1988 he defended his doctor’s dissertation. In 1972 after finishing his college my son married Tatiana Zevakina, a Ukrainian girl. My wife and I bought a cooperative apartment for them on our saving and what we borrowed from our friends. In 1973 their son Dmitriy was born.

In 1980s my son became the first Rector of the Solomon University in Kiev [Jewish University in Kiev, established in 1995], at his friends' recommendation. It is the center of Jewish culture and history, but not only. Russian and Ukrainian intelligentsia representatives want to study here. My daughter-in-law Tatiana teaches German in the University. Our grandson Dmitriy finished the Construction College. He deals in TV management. He worked on television for some time, but now he also lectures at the university. My son is close to the Jewish culture: by spirit and by his current position, but like me he is attracted by the Russian and Ukrainian cultures. Therefore, my son's family does not consider emigration. My son believes that he will be useful for this new country - independent Ukraine that enabled Jews to develop their Jewish culture and identify themselves as a nation. I have my dearest great granddaughter Maria, whom I wish happiness in the country where she decides to live.