Alexandr Golbreich

This is my son Alexandr. He was photographed, when he came to Riga on vacation in 2005.

Upon graduation from university our son was issued a job assignment to the Institute of Organic Synthesis in Riga. He was a researcher. Later he wrote and defended a candidate's thesis. In Soviet times scientific works were funded by the state, and this funding was sufficient. My son had good perspectives at work. He had authority and was involved in a number of scientific developments. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, Latvia became independent, and it no longer focused on scientific developments. Scientists were underpaid, and often their salaries were delayed. The funding of new developments was terminated, there was no money allocated for necessary equipment.

Many scientists, including Alexandr, started looking for jobs abroad. Alexandr worked in Germany for six months, and six months in France before he moved to America in 2000. He promptly adjusted to life in America  and found a job that he likes. He lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He calls me two to three times a week. We have long conversations. My son tells me what happens in his life and asks me how I am. Alexandr is a very caring and loving son. Unfortunately, he has no family of his own.