Lydia van Vogt, maiden name “Bereginsky,” was born in Crimea in 1927. Linda and her family escaped from Crimea during the Russian Civil War, living in Romania and Poland and finally in Munich, Germany. She lived in Munich during World War II, surviving the many bombing raids, although many of her friends did not. At the end of the war, the American Army came in to help rebuild the city. Lydia was hired as a translator because she spoke German, Russian, Polish, Romanian, and a little English. She especially remembers riding in an open jeep with General Eisenhower, to serve as his personal translator in the concentration camps, such as Dachau. She recounts that it was a very sad experience, but an honor to work for the American Army, who all were so thankful for her help.
2025 Gala Honoree – Lydia van Vogt
Lydia remained in Munich until 1950, when her family was given passage by ship to America and landed in New York. She recounts that seeing the Statue of Liberty was such an emotional moment for all of them. They lived in Syracuse, New York, and her family remained there, but Lydia married and moved to California in 1953, where she became a translator for the courts in downtown Los Angeles. Thank you for being a part of our 2025 Gala.
