Aba Strunsky

Aba Strunsky, my maternal grandfather.

My grandmother Rakhil Strunskaya [nee Galyorkina] was born in Polotsk in 1870. Her husband, my maternal grandfather, Aba Strunsky, originated from Polish Jews.

He was born in 1869, I do not know in which town. He delivered passengers who arrived to Polotsk, especially those who came by night trains. The owner of the horses was merchant Irma Galyorkin.

During the daytime Aba played the violin, he was one of the best violinists in Polotsk. He played at weddings and funerals, both rich and poor.

Aba's elder brother was a civilian in the Tsarist Army. He hit an officer with a bottle on the head because he called him a "dirty Jew".

In order to avoid the punishment, he had to be secretly transported to America in a ship's hold. I do not know anything about the other brothers and sisters of grandfather Aba.