Comments on: Gita Vygodskaya

By: Claudia Schulte

Claudia Schulte — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 22:24:18 +0000

I’ll always remember Gita’s warmth and enthusiasm at the Vygotsky conference at Columbia University around 2001. I asked her if her father had ever written specifically about the pedagogical implications of writing and reading poetry. Her reply left me dumbfounded — there was no way of telling, because during one very cold winter, the family had needed to burn many of his writings to stay warm! So it was possible, but we’ll never know what was lost that winter.

She did tell me that he always found time to read poetry to the children, no matter how busy he was.

Thank you, Gita, for the beautiful memories you’ve kept alive, and for your own dedication to furthering his work.

By: Volker Bunzendahk

Volker Bunzendahk — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:58:07 +0000

Yes, and I am so happy that I have met Gita two, allmost three times.

First and second time was in Århus and Vejle, Denmark, where I had the possibility to share words and thoughts, and last not least to share moments with her. The third time was at the 110 years conference in Moscow, 2006, where she unfortunately already was not so well. At that time Elena Kravtsova and her son Lev, and her husband made the connection inderectly to Gita.

In Århus, while Lois talked in the auditorium in Århus,1998, she whispered in my ears: “Isn’t it wonderful that she will bring Vygotskijs words over to the next millenium. She helps his words to be heard in the future!” -

Gita will allways be remembered by me as both grandmother and child, grandmother for all of us trying to work on with her fathers contributions, child because she could tell us stories about Lev Vygotsky as a father, as a husband, as a friend.

Volker

By: loisholzman

loisholzman — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 02:07:50 +0000

Thank you, Dot. And ditto, ditto, ditto!

By: Dot Robbins

Dot Robbins — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 03:18:24 +0000

Dear Lois,
Thank you for your thoughts and the picture of Gita. Wonderful!! I am so happy that you and others shared experiences with her. You can be very sure that you were very meaningful to Gita and Elena Kravtsova (her daughter) in so many ways…..And, it all continues through our mutual friend, Elina Lampert-Shepel, who was in Moscow with the International Vygotsky Summer School when Gita died. Lois, you were a true friend to Gita for so long. Thank you for all of the support you showed her.
With very good wishes,
Dot

By: loisholzman

loisholzman — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:23:52 +0000

And now you’re performing in the world performing the world!

By: Melissa Meyer

Melissa Meyer — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:20:32 +0000

I remember first meeting Gita at the East Side Institute on 500 Greenwich Street. She sat on a stool in front of the what was the costume shop for the Castillo Theatre.

I had moved to New York to train in the Institute’s therapist training program. I had only been in the city for a couple of months and did not quite realize the significance of her visit, nor meeting Joe Bruner who came to our offices as well. I don’t remember what was said, but I do remember her smiling eyes. Thanks to her we have Lev’s writings and the influence they have had on social therapy. Thank you, Gita!