Gary M. Pomerantz

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A Story of Family: In search of Grandpa's world

A visit to the old neighborhood ...

... mirrors the
journey of a lifetime

The Atlanta Journal and Constitution
February 1, 1998

By Gary M. Pomerantz
Staff writer

Our driver is Vladislav Fedchenko, a 32-year-old Kiev native, a handsome man with high cheek bones and an easy manner. Vlad speaks little English but understands plenty.

Over lunch, we are talking about the brutality of Ukrainian history. In what has been an emotional trip back to her native land, Angela begins to weep.

That day, she had found her own grandfather's name on a list of Jews killed during World War II at Babi Yar. There, more than 150,000 Kiev residents ---the overwhelming majority Jews ---were executed by the Nazis, their bodies thrown into mass graves.

Suddenly, Vlad speaks. Softly, he tells us this talk about our grandfathers has made him think of his own, whom he never knew.

One day in 1937 my grandfather just disappeared, Vlad says. He was a member of the Communist Party, in a branch that organized teenagers.

Somehow, he had become known as an enemy of the party. My father, Vlad says, was only a year old when his father was taken away.

About 20 years later, Vlad says, his eyes reddening, Grandmother received a letter that said her husband was dead. The letter didn't say when he died or how. Just that he was dead.

Now, Vlad looks at us and says, At least you have somewhere to look. I have only that piece of paper. Now, I'm thinking, "What if Grandpa hadn't gotten on the Adriatic?" Vlad's grandfather and Angela's grandfather remained in Ukraine during murderous times and paid the ultimate price.

With shots of vodka, we raise our glasses. The solemn toast is mine: "To our grandfathers."

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