In these tumultuous times, it is important to celebrate the victories, old and new, that have saved lives. At the birth of UUSC lies one reminder of how inspiring our founders were and the impact they had on families fleeing persecution, including the Vakar Family.
Nicholas Vakar and Gertrude Claftar Vakar lived in Russia their entire lives. Yet, in the wake of the Russian Revolution, arbitrary new laws stripped the couple of their citizenship. During this period of heightened political persecution, and without the protection of being citizens, the Vakars were subject to acts of violence and the threat of death. Nicholas and Gertrude were forced to flee Russia, settling in France, where they had two daughters; Catherine (1927), and Anna (1929).
A decade later, World War II began. Following the German invasion, Nicholas and Gertrude evacuated their daughters to the Pyrenees in southern of France, joining them in June of 1940. The Vakars, now with two young children, were again facing persecution – this time from Nazi Germany.
Meanwhile, Martha and Waitstill Sharp, who had been assisting refugees fleeing Nazi occupation in Czechoslovakia, had just expanded their efforts to France. The Sharps were working to send a group of 26 children – all of whom were non-French citizens – to the United States, when, only by chance, they encountered the Vakars. Leaving their parents behind, Catherine and Anna joined the Sharps’ journey to the United States. It was in these historic efforts of Martha and Waitstill that the Unitarian Service Committee had its founding.
The children traveled through Spain and sailed from Portugal on the S.S. Excambion, arriving in the United States on December 23, 1940. At that time, Catherine was 13 and Anna was 11 years-old. The two sisters were without their parents for nearly a year when, finally, all four of them were reunited in August 1941. After many years of living in fear, with the help of Martha and Waitstill Sharpe and other kind-hearted supporters, the family settled in Boston.
Although all four family members have since passed, the Vakars lived full lives while embracing their proud heritage. Catherine went on to graduate from Harvard University (1963) and later earned a PhD in Slavic languages and literature. She had a distinguished career at MIT as a Russian language professor and was a recognized authority on Slavic linguistics. She is survived by her three children. Anna eventually settled in British Columbia where she developed a deep passion for writing and became a notable poet.
As for their parents, Nicholas taught Russian at Wheaton College and later at The Ohio State University. Gertrude translated a number of influential works from Russian to English.
Through the early stages of UUSC’s history to their later years, the Vakars recognized the importance of continuing this important work by establishing a bequest. For Catherine, it was because “What I owe Martha is my life in America. Perhaps my life itself.” Today, UUSC continues to provide humanitarian assistance to migrant families and children with stories that echo the experiences of the Vakar sisters.
You too can make a planned gift and help brighten the future of human rights and social justice. For more information on how, please contact Brendan Donnelly at 617-301-4349 or by email at bdonnelly@uusc.org.
