Maya Krakovsky

Maya was born on May 9, 1936 in Luybar, Ukraine to Lazar and Bronya Liverant. Her childhood was cut short when in 1941 the German Army occupied Luybar. Maya, her sister, Anna and their mother were among the lucky few who were able to escape the extermination of nearly 2,000-strong Jewish population of Luybar. Maya often shared stories of hiding in the fields while German planes flew low and shot at anything that moved.

They traversed over 2,000 miles by foot, horse-pulled cart and, when lucky, train cattle cart to Yangiul, Uzbekistan where they settled in a refugee camp. Upon arriving in Uzbekistan, Bronya contracted typhoid. At the age of six, Maya was left to scavenge for herself and her younger sister while her mother fought for her life. This was just one example of experience that framed Maya’s tenacious, self-reliant, stubborn and loving character.

Upon returning to Luybar in 1945, they found little family remaining as most Jews were exterminated by the Nazis. Maya also lost her father who was killed outside Moscow while fighting Nazis.

In 1952, Maya and her family settled in Kyiv in hopes for better education and employment opportunities. However, increasing state antisemitism limited her choices. She wanted to become a geologist, but was told that there were too many Jews in that profession as it is. Although she became an engineer, most of her career involved hard work at remote factories or work as a seamstress.

In 1963, she married Rafael Krakovsky and had 2 children, Alexander and Polina. In 1980, at the age of 45, Maya immigrated to the United States with her husband, mother, and children.

In the US, Maya turned her skill as a seamstress into a thriving embroidery business that served multiple organizations across the Washington DC Metro Area, most notably the 3rd US Infantry Regiment (“Old Guard”).

Maya’s hardened life experience made her into a real Jewish mother. Her biggest wish was for her children and grandchildren to never experience the suffering, hunger, hate and prejudice that she went through. She expected the impossible, and bestowed her values of love, self-reliance, hard work, education, universal acceptance and as much borscht with sour cream as you can eat. She touched many different people with her love and acceptance until the very end of her life.

Maya was a beloved mother and Babushka (Grandmother), “Baba Maya.” She is survived by her children Alexander (Jackie) Krakovsky and Polina (Shelton) Gregory and her grandchildren Eliana Krakovsky, Samantha Krakovsky, Micah Gregory, and Elijah Gregory. She is preceded in death by her husband, Rafael Krakovsky and sister, Anna Steinberg. She is also survived by her niece Elen and her nephew Sam. She was a resident of Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Most importantly, Baba Maya was the most amazing, loving and tenacious woman this world will ever meet, and—may we add—an absolute roast master. There is so much more to say about her but please share your favorite memories of Maya if you wish. There is so so so much more to say but that would require a novel or two.

Please omit flowers.