Gelvan (Gelwan) Ilya Isaakovich (18 April 1917, Smolensk) – merchandiser.
Ilya Gelvan was the son of Isaak Gelvan (1886, Daugavpils – 1934, Daugavpils) and Chaya-Frida Gelvan (née Rapoport) (1883, Drissa, Belarus).
From 1934 to 1936, he worked as a carpenter at the workshop of Bruskin in Daugavpils. Between 1936 and 1938, he was a timber receiver and salesman at the Svirsky firm in Daugavpils. In 1938–1939, he worked as a cashier at the skating rink and a courier for the “Disk” sports society. He served in the Latvian Army’s 3rd Jelgava Infantry Regiment from 1939 to 1940, and was a cadet at the Riga Infantry School in 1940–1941.
In 1941, Ilya Gelvan became a platoon commander in the 92nd Rifle Regiment of the 201st Division, and from 1941 to 1942, served as a machine-gun company commander on the Northwestern Front. After being wounded in 1942 and hospitalised in Tyumen, he returned to active duty and fought on the Southwestern, Northwestern, and 2nd Baltic Fronts. From 1945 to 1947, he was deputy commander of a rifle battalion stationed in Riga.
After demobilisation, Ilya Gelvan worked from 1947 to 1949 as head of the hall, buffet, and canteen of the Riga Trust for Canteens and Restaurants. From 1949 to 1952, he managed a kiosk and shop in the 2nd Riga City Industrial Trade Organisation. In 1953, he worked as a labourer in the Savienība artel. Between 1953 and 1960, he was manager of the Latmestsnabsbyt supply base. From 1960 to 1962, he headed the central warehouse of the “Venta” Leather and Shoe Combine in Riga. In 1962–1964, he worked as a packer in the finished goods warehouse of the “1st May” shoe factory. From 1964 to 1974, he was a merchandiser and deputy director at the Latvraznosnabsbyt store in Riga.
Ilya Gelvan was awarded the Order of the Red Star and several medals: For the Defence of Moscow, For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–45, 50 Years of the Soviet Armed Forces, 20 Years of Victory over Germany, For Valiant Labour in Honour of the 100th Anniversary of Lenin’s Birth, and 25 Years of Victory over Germany. He was a member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) from 1947 to 1974.
He married Elza Gelvan (née Siliņšmits) (b. 1926, Riga), and their children were: Zoya Karpelovskaya (née Gelvan) (b. 1945, Riga), Vladimir Gelvan (b. 1946, Riga), and Alexander Gelvan (b. 1960, Riga). In 1974, his daughter emigrated to Israel from Odessa, and later that year, Ilya himself received permission to emigrate.
Family:
Elza Gelvan (née Siliņšmits) (b. 1926, Riga) – wife
Zoya Karpelovskaya (née Gelvan) (b. 1945, Riga) – daughter
Vladimir Gelvan (b. 1946, Riga) – son
Alexander Gelvan (b. 1960, Riga) – son
Isaak Gelvan (1886–1934, Daugavpils) – father
Chaya-Frida Gelvan (née Rapoport) (1883, Drissa, Belarus) – mother
Motel Gelvan (1920–1942, Daugavpils) – brother
Abo Gelvan (b. 1922, Daugavpils) – brother
Regina Shluper (née Freidenson) (b. 1945, Riga) – niece (wife of brother’s niece)