Meyerovich (Meerowitsch) Leiba Moiseevich (13 December 1909, Sabile, Latvia) — tinsmith.
Leiba Meyerovich was born into the family of Moisei Aizikovich Meyerovich (1880–1938, Sabile) and Tsipe Leibovna Meyerovich (born 1883; murdered by the Nazis in 1941, Sabile).
He completed five grades of primary school in 1922. From 1922 to 1930 he worked first as an apprentice tinsmith and then as a tinsmith in Talberg’s workshop. In 1930–1931 he served in the Latvian Army. After moving to Riga, he worked as a tinsmith at the Alumstall factory (1932–1934) and as a metal fitter at the photo and radio factory of the Leibovich Joint-Stock Company (1934–1941).
During the Second World War he fought at the front (1941–1942), was wounded in both legs, taken prisoner, and held in camps in Latvia and later in Germany (1942–1944). He escaped, hid with a Polish family, and then returned to the Soviet Army (1944–1945). In 1945, because he had been a prisoner of war, he was convicted under Article 58-1b of the Criminal Code of the RSFSR and sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment; he was released early in 1952.
After his release he worked as a tinsmith at the Tukums District Industrial Combine (1952–1953). After moving to Riga, he worked as a tinsmith in the Lentrudrezervstroy Trust (1953–1955) and at a metalworking combine (1955–1956). He again served a sentence in a corrective labor camp by decision of a people’s court and was released early (1956–1957). He subsequently worked as a tinsmith at the metalworking combine (1957–1958), at the Avangard Factory (1958–1963), and at the Construction and Installation Directorate of the Ministry of Local Industry (1963–1969).
In marriage to Tsiva Yankelevna Meyerovich (née Gorina; first marriage Druyan) (born 1918, Zilupe, Latvia), a son was born: Moisey Leibovich Meyerovich (born 1954, Riga).
Note: From her first marriage to Shlema Borukhovich Druyan (1909, Ludza, Latvia — 1947, Riga), Tsiva Yankelevna had a daughter, Ida Shlemovna Druyan (born 1947, Riga). In 1961, Leiba Moiseevich formally adopted her, giving her his surname and patronymic: Ida Leibovna Meyerovich.
In 1969 Leiba Meyerovich received permission to emigrate to Israel, where since 1945 his sister, Livia Moiseevna Königsberg (née Meyerovich) (born 1920, Sabile), had been living.
Family:
Moisei Aizikovich Meyerovich (1880–1938) — father
Tsipe Leibovna Meyerovich (1883–1941) — mother
Livia Moiseevna Königsberg (née Meyerovich) (born 1920) — sister
Tsiva Yankelevna Meyerovich (née Gorina) (born 1918) — wife
Ida Leibovna Meyerovich (born 1947) — daughter (adopted)
Moisey Leibovich Meyerovich (born 1954) — son