Ivan – Stefan Vovkotrub
The family of peasants Hryhoriy and Maria Vovkotrub with their son and daughter lived in the village of Kopani, 3 km from Zolochev. Hryhoriy was the head of the collective farm, foreman. Maria was a housewife. On January 1, 1936, their son Ivan – Stefan, was born.
Before World War II, many Jews lived in Zolochiv. They owned saloons, sold groceries and fabrics in shops, and bought potatoes, carrots, and beets from Ivan’s father, Hryhoriy Vovkotrub. As World War II began, the Germans began taking Jews to the ghetto. Arnold (Ankhil) Kremnitzer, his wife Anna (Nehama), and their three daughters, 11-year-old Elea, 14-year-old Dora, and 19-year-old Verta, were the first to seek refuge in Vovkotrub. Arnold asked Hryhoriy: “Listen, Hrynu, could you hide us for a while?” He agreed. They told others.
They made a hiding place for them in the attics of the house and of the barn, built a partition inside so that those who came in thought it was the end of the room. The outer wall of the attic was made of wooden beams. Glass was inserted into the gaps between them. When someone came into the yard, one could see who had come – Nazi or people from the village. The attics were not heated. They were covered with straw. Featherbeds were laid inside.
Subsequently, up to 25 Jews gathered. The Vovkotrubs shared everything they had with Jews and hid them for 18 months. Son Ivan and his sister made sure strangers did not appear in the yard. Maria’s sister lived next door. It was agreed with her that from time Jews would stay overnight at her house.
The Vovkotrub family cared about the Jews until the expulsion of the Nazis on July 18, 1944. Everyone was lucky to survive.
After the war, Kremnitzer’s daughters emigrated to the United States and Canada, but always kept in touch with the family of their rescuers.
On September 12, 1993 Yad Vashem recognized Hryhoriy and Maria Vovkotrub as Righteous Among the Nations.
On April 13, 2018 Jewish Council of Ukraine recognized Ivan – Stefan Vovkotrub as Righteous of Ukraine.