LYDIA V. SAVITZKAYA
1898 - 1967
The very mention of Mrs. Lydia Savitzkaya's name recalls
to all who knew her a cheerful little lady hurrying along
the campus. She always had a bright and warm smile for
all she happened to meet on her way. Each person responded
with affection to her enthusiastic greeting as she invariably
remembered various details of peoples’ lives. She never failed
to inquire after their health or their relatives. Her inter-
est in people was deep and genuine. This warm hearted lady
was loved by students and colleagues alike.
The ever ready smile and greeting was somehow symbolic of
the great courage and faith that saw Mrs. Savitzkaya through
the ups and downs of life.
Born in Russia, Mrs. Savitzkaya was graduated with honors
from the Smolny Institute in St. Petersburg. She special-
ized in music and literature and received a master's degree
in music, the harp being her instrument.
With the coming of the Revolution Mrs. Savitzkaya escaped
from Russia via Holland and France, bringing little with
her except for personal belongings. Making a new start in
Europe, she taught Russian to the British Officers in Holland
besides teaching the piano and the harp. After arriving in
the United States, she filled engagements with the Boston
Symphony Orchestra and taught at the Mannes School of Music
in New York. She was a member of ensembles doing sustaining
programs for WOR and WABC radio. At the same time Mrs.
Savitzkaya gave private lessons in Russian.
In 1945 Mrs. Savitzkaya began teaching Russian in New York
in earnest. Subsequently she taught at Cornell and in 1946
gave the Army Intensive Russian Language course for officers
at Columbia University. From 1946-1948 she taught at Smith
College. In 1948 she joined the Vassar faculty and remained
here until her retirement in 1964.
Mrs. Savitzkaya was devoted to her teaching and was constantly
at work on improving materials for class work in as much as
available textbooks were inadequate.
Mrs. Savitzkaya published a reader, Asya by Turgenev, for
which she provided the notes and the vocabulary. She was -
instrumental in putting on some very colorful plays at
Vassar, performed by students of the Russian Department.
LYDIA V. SAVITZKAYA - continued
Some of the costumes used in the plays were brought back
with her from Russia. These plays, based for the most part
on folklore were very successful. Among them were the
dramatizations of Pushkin's Tsar Saltan; The Golden Cockerel,
and Denisov's The Snow Maiden.
All those who knew her remember a sweet little lady, greet-
ing all she came across with her inimitable enthusiasm and
warmth. Some of us thought of her as of a little flitting
bird but she also had an air of undaunted determination
about her. She firmly believed in her rights as a pedestrian,
and lifting her hand imperiously to stop incoming traffic
she marched Victoriously across Raymond Avenue. No automobile
was going to preempt her basic human right in traffic.
Mrs. Savitzkaya's death on March 27, 1967 came as a shock
to her many friends. Small in stature, she nonetheless
inspired confidence that she would continue indefinitely in
her zest for living and enjoying an interesting life. Her
kindness and energy will long be remembered. Her warmth and
friendliness will be missed by her many, many friends and
students.
Respectfully submitted,
Helen Walker
XVIII 324