Mikhail Spivak, a WW II veteran of the Soviet Red Army and a resident of Denver’s Kavod Senior Life for more than 20 years, passed away on March 30, 2022.
A vigil of remembrance was held at Kavod last week, at which Rabbi Stephen Booth-Nadav, Kavod chaplain, said of Mr. Spivak: “Many of us knew him as this indomitable spirit . . . always smiling, exercising, dancing, living life as fully as possible.”
Born in Babruysk, Byelorussia (now Belarus) on July 21, 1927, Mr. Spivak was 17 when he volunteered for the Soviet army in 1944. He fought both German forces and pro-Nazi partisans in the Baltic region during and after the formal end of the war and was wounded in action.
He remained in the Soviet military for 30 years, serving as a non-commissioned officer in missile and artillery units. In 1992, he emigrated to the US with his children, moving to Denver four years later. He cited both poverty and anti-Semitism as among his reasons for leaving the USSR.
Mr. Spivak was preceded in death by his wife Maria in 1986.
In a 2018 interview with the Intermountain Jewish News, Mr. Spivak expressed pride in his service in the Red Army for which he was decorated several times. “I am very proud of what I did,” he said. “I am also proud of what the Americans did, the British, the French.”
While reluctant to discuss growing tensions at the time between the US and Russia, he said that his most fervent wish was that generations younger than his would not have to share his wartime experiences, “because there’s nothing more horrible than war.”
Mr. Spivak was forthright about his feelings for the US, ending his interview by saying, “G-d bless America.”
He is survived by his children Anna Khaikina and Semyon Spivak of Denver.
Denver native and US Navy veteran Wallace (Wally) Weiss passed away on March 20, 2022. He was 87. A service was held March 24 at Ft. Logan National Cemetery, officiated by Rabbi Joe Black. Arrangements were made by Feldman Mortuary.
Mr. Weiss was born on Dec. 18, 1934. He grew up on Denver’s West Side and attended Colorado Academy and North High School, graduating while he was in the US Navy. He was a First Class Gunnerman on the USS Wasp during the Korean War.
In 1956, Mr. Weiss met Ilene Bennish on a blind date. Three months later, when Mr. Weiss was on shore leave, they married, just as Mrs. Weiss was getting ready to graduate from high school. The couple was married until Mrs. Weiss’ passing in 2017.
“They were true soul mates and their worlds revolved around each other,” the family said.
After his naval duty, Mr. Weiss returned to Denver. For 30 years he operated Capital Sanitary Industrial Laundry with his late father Isadore Weiss. In later years, Mr. Weiss also operated Soil Busters, a carpet and upholstery business.
“Wally Weiss was known for his generosity, huge heart and sweet, kind demeanor,” his family said. “While his stature was strong, his heart was so soft that everyone who knew him sincerely loved him.”
Survivors include children Mindy (Dr. Lon) Horwitz, Debbie (Ira) David, Brian Weiss and Mike (Kimberly) Weiss; and 10 grandchildren.
Contributions may be made to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
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