Maria Baicher, Yuzef Kirtzer and son Michael Kirtzer

Maria Baicher, Yuzef Kirtzer and son Michael Kirtzer

This is our family photo: my husband Yuzef Kirtzer and I are sitting. Our son Michael Kirtzer is standing.

It was taken shortly before my son was recruited to the army in Moscow in 1982.

Our son was born on 8 March 1966. We named him Michael. My son was a terrible pupil at school. He didn’t like school and received only ‘3’ marks. He left school after finishing the 8th grade. He entered a medical school.

I remember all my suffering at parents’ meetings at school where they always reprimanded my son for poor results and I told my husband that it was his turn to attend parents’ meetings at the medical school since I had fulfilled my duty at school meetings.

It happened so that he couldn’t make to attend a meeting when our son was a 2nd-year student and I had to go. I was shocked when my son’s teacher spoke praises of him. She said he had logical thinking, medical biological thinking and he had talents and that he would make it to Medical College.

He was a devoted student. When they had practical training working in the ambulance, all other student finished at 6 pm and I called the ambulance at 2 in the morning and they told me that my son went on calls.

He was ready to work there round the clock. After finishing this school he went to work at the ambulance. We didn't raise our son in the spirit of Jewish traditions.

We didn't observe any. My son became interested in the history of Jewish people in his teens. He had many Jewish friends at school. They went to the synagogue on Jewish holidays. My son identifies himself as Jew, though he doesn't observe traditions or holidays.

I worked at the Giprostesneft institute designing potable and industrial water supply for oil industry. I worked there 33 years until I retired. I went on interesting business trips and had an interesting and multifarious job. I liked my work. From engineer I was promoted to project chief engineer.

My husband worked as a teacher of an art subject in the theatrical Art School. He worked in this school until he retired in 1990. Then he worked at the department of art in Moscow Pedagogical College.

At that time his textbook in drawing for secondary and special educational institutions was published. It is still very popular. Besides, he did creative work for students’ performances.

He was a talented and extraordinary man and he had such a difficult life. He lost his eye, but he got education and became a good specialist. It required courage and strong will. He was very sociable and had many friends, he liked to have guests.

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