Lydia Kalaida

Lydia was my Russian language instructor for most of my years at UW (1981-1985). I had the pleasure of keeping in touch with her over the years and was able to visit when we came to Wisconsin on occasion. I was able to use the Russian I learned from her to eventually visit Belarus with my wife, and we ended up adopting our second daughter from there! Our whole family will miss you, Lydia!

We'll miss you, Sweet Friend. Much love and respect to you.

My wife and I met in Russian class, and some of our first "dates" were spent studying for Lydia's exams, grilling brats at the Slavic Club picnic, and trying to stay in tune during Slavic Choir rehearsals of Rachmaninoff's Vespers. "Eternal Memory" Lydia. Thanks for the chocolate torte recipe, music lessons, and fondly remembered additions you made to our collection of treasured college memories.