Her mama was a torchbearer for the 2002 Winter Olympics, inspiring then and now

This time of year reminds us to cherish the people who inspire us, and be grateful for treasured memories.

When Miami writer Angela Shlyakhov heard about a 2001 contest to nominate an uplifting person, she knew she had to write about her mother.

The form asked: “Want to become one of the 11,500 people who’ll carry the Olympic torch across the United States on its way to the opening ceremonies of the 2002 Salt Lake City, Utah, Winter Games?”

The contest, sponsored by Coca-Cola and Chevrolet, asked entrants to write a 50-100 word essay to win a coveted torch relay spot for their nominee.

“I entered the contest, writing about my mother, and she was chosen to participate. It was a great surprise for her 60th birthday,” said Shlyakhov.

Her mother, Galina Shlyakhov, is now 84 and lives with dementia at an assisted living facility.

“Being an Olympic torchbearer was one of the highlights of her life,” her daughter said.

“They were looking for stories about motivational people who have inspired others by encountering and overcoming adversity, or who embodied the spirit of the Olympic movement and were examples of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games torch motto of ‘Light the Fire Within.’

“My Mama was born in Odessa, Ukraine, in 1941 during World War II. She was raised by a single mother and had two younger brothers. While her mother worked, my mama tended to her younger siblings. At a young age, she taught herself to sew and crafted clothing for extra food money for the family.

“In her 20s, she met my papa. He was an artist, photographer and writer. My father taught my mother art and photography so that they could both restore old photographs, and she could assist him in photographing people and events,” said Angela Shlyakhov.

“In the 1970s, when Russian Jews were persecuted in Ukraine for their religious beliefs, my parents wanted to see the light and needed a better life to survive and thrive. They applied for an exit visa and in 1977, four years after their application, they were finally granted a coveted golden ticket out.”

They left the Soviet Union in November 1977 and arrived in Miami Beach in April 1978 after three months of living in other countries.

“We were allowed to leave Russia with only $200 per adult. That’s $400 for a family of three living for months in Europe. We were dubbed ‘refuseniks’ because we were refused exit visas. My parents chose to live in Miami Beach because they wanted to be close to the ocean and live in a land of palm trees, sun and water.”

But at that time, finding a rental apartment in Miami Beach in the late 1970s was not easy with only elderly people living there, she said.

“The landlords told my parents ‘no kids and no dogs allowed’ in rentals. I was 7 years old.”

Her parents convinced a landlord that Angela was quiet and that no one would ever hear her.

“They were right. We rented the apartment and lived there for years.”

She said her parents found jobs at Photo Magic for minimum wage. They processed Kodak film into photographs and restored old photographs “to make them gorgeous painted artworks for elated customers for years.”

Until life shifted again when photo technology kicked in.

“My parents were no longer needed. They lost their jobs and the business shut down.

“In her 50s, not wasting any time and knowing that the family needed money, my mama went to school and became a physician assistant.

“My father had a hard time finding a job and for a few years, my mama supported the family. She worked as a doctor’s assistant until she was 70 years old. With her bright disposition, the doctors and patients loved her. My mama always instilled hard work in me.”

Angela Shlyakhov graduated from Miami Beach High School at 17 and earned a scholarship to the then-Miami-Dade Community College, where she took paralegal studies courses. She said she went on to Florida International University and received a journalism degree.

“Throughout my mama’s life, the Olympics always brought equality and unity to her life. It was a time when the world stopped for a few weeks every two years to watch athletes from all over the world compete. She was always athletic, climbing rocks and skiing in Russia. My father played soccer in Russia with his friends and even coached the North Shore Miami Beach Optimists for years,” she said. He died in 2007.

“To this day, at age 84, my mama looks forward to watching the Olympics,” said Shlyakhov. “My mama ‘lit the fire within’ in me and many others.”

And on Dec. 8, 2001, decked out in a gifted white outfit, her elated mother and a few other lucky torchbearers got to carry the Olympic torch through North Bay Village.

It looked like an icicle, with a slight curve to represent speed and fluidity.

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS TO SELL TREES

For more than 50 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade has sold Christmas trees to raise funds to help local youth.

The tradition continues starting at 5 p.m., Nov. 25, with a grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony. The Thoma Bravo Christmas Tree Lot at Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade’s Hank Kline Club is at 2805 SW 32nd Ave. Santa and other distinguished guests will attend.

The lot will then be open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day until the trees sell out. Thanksgiving Day hours are 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. All Fraser fir trees stand five to 14 feet tall, with a starting price of $65. Poinsettias start at $15. Shoppers can also donate to Sponsor-A-Child to help make a positive impact on the life of a young club member.

Write to ChristinaMMayo@gmail.com with news for this column.