Aron Rudiak with his wife Lubov Rudiak, sons Gennadi Rudiak and Yuri Rudiak

I and my wife Lubov near the entrance to a restaurant on our younger son Yuri's birthday (on the right). Our elder son Gennadi is on my wife's left. This photo was taken in Ternopol in 2003.

I am a happy man. I've lived with the best woman ever surrounded by loving children and grandchildren. We are members of the Jewish community and often visit Hesed. My wife is a great cook. She is head of the national culinary club in Hesed. We haven't become religious, but we began to celebrate Jewish holidays. What is interesting - our Ukrainian daughters-in-law Galia and Vera also enjoy celebrating Jewish holidays. Our children support us. We have a wonderful apartment and a dacha [summer cottage]. We are fond of growing vegetables and flowers. I gave my car to my older son in 1990. Now Gennadi and Yuri have nice foreign made cars. A few years ago our children bought us a trip to Cyprus. We often get together to celebrate Jewish holidays. Our children always cover all expenses. In 2002 we celebrated our 'golden wedding' in an expensive restaurant. Our beloved children and grandchildren were with us.

We have wonderful children. Both sons made good careers. Gennadi finished Belgorod all-Union Technological College. He is a builder. Many Jews entered colleges in small Russian towns at that time. There was low competition that made it easier for a Jew to enter a college. He worked as construction engineer for many years.

Yuri finished Polytechnic College in Ternopol and post-graduate studies at the Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematic in Kiev State University. He defended his candidate's dissertation and was awarded a title of candidate of physics and mathematic sciences [Soviet/Russian doctorate degrees]. He returned here and worked as a lecturer. He was also a member of the Scientific Council where applicants submitted their candidate's dissertations. In 1993 he entered the Doctorate department in this College with competition of 14 applicants per one vacancy. He prepared a dissertation of doctor of science. He worked on many research projects, was invited to conferences in Poland, Lisbon in Portugal and Oxford. There are references to my son's works in many scientific publications abroad. Both sons married Ukrainian girls. We are very happy with our daughters-in-law that came from very intelligent families.

In 1994 Yuri quit his job. He dealt in small business. He took the risk of selling his apartment to invest the money in his business. He lived with his family in our apartment. Gennadi joined him in the course of time. Now they own a network of big pharmacies 'Gedeon Richter' in Ukraine. We can call it a family business. Gennadi's wife Galia and Yuri's wife Vera have medical education and are involved in this family business. Our children and their families are wealthy. They have luxurious apartments and cars and they can afford to give our grandchildren good education. We have four grandchildren: Gennadi's children are Denis, born in 1987, and Natalia, born in 1989, and Yuri's children are Tamara, born in 1988, and Alexandr, born in 1995. Our grandchildren are very gifted and they love us.