This is Konstantin, the seaman, mother's brother.
We survived until 1942, in the most hungry times, thanks to my Uncle Kostya.
They were transferred to Leningrad from the Pre-Baltic area. He would bring to us loafs of bread and other food. We survived and were evacuated. There was fear that Leningrad would be surrendered, so the order was issued to take away all the children.
Uncle Kostya also had his family back, they, too, had been evacuated. They went through all the basic hardships of war in Leningrad, but as there was the order to take away all children, they were evacuated. They were in Siberia, and all the family returned, and they continued to live in Leningrad.
After the war he worked in a grocery warehouse, as he had no education, he was just a sailor. We called him this way too - Kostya-the seaman. He was very cheerful and fanciful. He served in the merchant fleet, and then in the coast defense of Leningrad. But his regular occupation was sailor in merchant marine, he traveled everywhere you could think of.
His wife Pasha, and their children Valya and Feliks Zaretsky, who inherited Grandfather's surname - left for Germany, I maintain relations with them, when they come, not often though. Feliks has a talented son, Daniil Zaretsky, he is frequently spoken about, and he is a well-known pianist.
But he did not leave for Germany, he travels worldwide, gives concerts. He's still very young, not older than 25. I went to listen to his concert once in the philharmonic society. Of course, he performed tremendously, perfectly.
