Silver Star Kyra Petrovskaya Wayne
Meet our newest Silver Star, Kyra Petrovskaya Wayne! Kyra’s done it all—singer, dancer, actress, WWII sharpshooter, writer, lecturer—and she’s still going strong at nearly 90! Born in war-torn Russia and raised on the stage, energetic Kyra Petrovskaya Wayne is excited about her latest book, a “sexy” novel titled The Chaperone. Read our interview of Kyra in Silver Star Kyra Petrovskaya Wayne.
Posted 6.27.08 at 10:06 am
Kyra Petrovskaya WaynePhoto by Kyra Petrovskaya WayneKyra Petrovskaya Wayne, descended from Russian nobility, grew up in the Soviet Union. At the age of eight years, she won admission to the Leningrad Academic Capella and joined the children’s singing group of the Kirov Theatre of Opera and Ballet. She continued her education at the Institute of Theatre Arts, becoming an actress and concert singer.
Kyra, World War II SharpshooterPhoto by Kyra Petrovskaya WayneWorld War II interrupted her ascending career. Drafted into the Red Army, Kyra became a sharpshooter and was wounded twice. After recovering, she became a field nurse working on the front lines. Ultimately, she was awarded three medals and allowed to resume her true profession, the theatre.
Kyra in Moscow Satire TheatrePhoto by Kyra Petrovskaya WayneAfter the war, she joined the Moscow Satire Theatre and appeared on the concert stage as a classical singer. One of her important roles was in the political comedy Mr. Perkins’ Mission into the Land of the Bolsheviks, which became a “must see” for American and European diplomats.
Kyra's WeddingPhoto by Kyra Petrovskaya WayneKyra met her husband, an American diplomat, at a reception. They married in a big church wedding attended by the entire diplomatic corps accredited to the Soviet Union after WWII. She left Russia as an American “war bride” in 1946.
Kyra with Groucho MarxPhoto by Kyra Petrovskaya WayneKyra’s accent limited her opportunities in America, and her marriage eventually foundered. A friend recommended her to the Groucho Marx show You Bet Your Life, which resulted in an offer to write the story of her life.
Kyra's AutobiographyPhoto by Kyra Petrovskaya WayneIn 1959, Kyra’s autobiography became a best seller and launched her writing career.
Kyra on The Art Linkletter ShowPhoto by Kyra Petrovskaya WayneHer appearance on You Bet Your Life led to many other television and concert appearances. Here she is on The Art Linkletter Show.
Kyra and Husband on CruisePhoto by Kyra Petrovskaya WayneIn 1960, Kyra married Dr. George Wayne, and her life changed completely again. They traveled to many countries together, which eventually resulted in another career as an enrichment lecturer for Royal Viking Cruise Lines. Here she is, with her late husband, attending a Captain’s Reception.
Kyra with Carol BurnettPhoto by Kyra Petrovskaya WayneKyra founded the Clean Air Program (CAP) of the American Lung Association of Los Angeles County and was its president for many years. Here she presents a CAP award to Carol Burnett. Kyra was actively engaged in various organizations and received accolades for her work.
Shurik: A Story of the Seige of Leningrad by Kyra Petrovskaya WaynePhoto by Kyra Petrovskaya WayneOf all the books she’s written, Kyra’s favorite is Shurik: A Story of the Seige of Leningrad by Kyra Petrovskaya Wayne. Published in 1970, and still in print, it’s the story of an orphan boy she saved during the war. See the feature on Silver Star Kyra Petrovskaya Wayne.
Kyra and FamilyPhoto by Kyra Petrovskaya WayneToday, Wayne lives with her family in Washington State. She takes great pride in her five grandchildren, one of whom, Christopher, designed the covers for her latest books, The Chaperone and Memoirs of a Piano. Here she is with her grandchildren, son Ron, daughter-in-law Karen, and Bijou.
Kyra ToastingPhoto by Kyra Petrovskaya WayneHere Kyra Petrovskaya Wayne toasts her family and friends at a Russian Easter celebration. “I’ve led a full life,” she says. “I’m grateful for it.”
Denali National Park creates an awe-inspiring backdrop for beautiful landscape and wildlife photographs. The park is located in the central area of the state of Alaska north of Anchorage and is approximately the size of the state of Massachusetts. Mt. McKinley, the tallest mountain in North America, is located within the park.
Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, is known as one of the best places in the world to observe polar bears. Churchill is a small community located on the southwest shores of Hudson Bay. It is at this point on the bay that the pack ice first forms in the fall. Thus, polar bears migrate to this area to begin their journey on the pack ice to feed on seals during the long, cold winters of the Arctic.
Over the course of three separate expeditions, 78-year-old Harry Rutstein retraced the 13,000-mile Silk Route that Marco Polo took from Venice to Beijing more than 700 years ago. The journey took him across 14 mountain ranges and six deserts. He traveled by horse, jeep, donkey cart, farm tractor, goatskin raft, camel, and foot, and he came back with countless stories. Read his interview in Harry Rutstein: Retracing the Silk Route.
Irena Sendler was an elderly, relatively unknown Polish social worker until four teenagers from Kansas in search of a National History Day project discovered what she had done. Sendler had helped to rescue 2,500 Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II, before being captured and sentenced to die. But she escaped and lived quietly until the students found her and wrote a play about her. Sendler died on May 12, 2008, aged 98 years. Photos here are courtesy of the Web site http://www.irenasendler.org, where more than 250 images can be viewed. See Quiet Heroine Irena Sendler, 1910–2008 for Silver Planet's tribute to this remarkable woman.
What comes to mind when you think of Panama? The Canal? Manuel Noriega? After that, many people draw a blank. Check out these photos to see just a little of what Panama has to offer. From its bustling modern capital to the eternal spring of the mountain highlands to white sand beaches, Panama has it all—including clean water, ubiquitous Internet access, and friendly people.
Weightlifting didn’t become part of 90-year-old Andora Quinby’s life until she turned 78. In just over 10 years, she became a world record holder in deadlifting. At a competition in November 2007, she took home three trophies, which joined the roomful she already has. Andora’s life is one of achievement: At the age of 75, she earned a master’s degree in human services management from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. Before that, she bore eight children. And before that, she earned a degree in physics and worked as a physicist for the Navy during World War II. Read all about her extraordinary life in the article Silver Star Andora Quinby.
Eugene Curnow, 83, was a Navy corpsman serving with a contingent of Marines that landed on Iwo Jima. He was one of only six who left the island alive 10 days later. He stayed silent about his war experience and went on to have a happy, active life, including 51 years as a veterinarian in Oregon, where he pioneered the use of mobile veterinary clinics. But late in life, unresolved posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) forced him to confront the war again. Now he’s written a riveting, story-filled memoir titled Life, the Hard Way: Up from Poverty Flat, which recounts not only that time but also growing up poor during the Depression. Read more about his extraordinary life in the article Silver Star Eugene Curnow.
Silver Star Marion Downs has had an acclaimed career in audiology. A hearing center in Colorado was named in her honor and opened in 2005, and she was inducted into the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame in 2006. Last year, she received the Department of Health and Human Services’ highest award for her groundbreaking work and lifetime dedication promoting the early identification of hearing problems in children, only the latest of her many awards and honors. Now she’s written a book about living out your passions and getting the most out of a long life: Shut Up and Live! (You Know How): A 93-Year-Old’s Guide to Living to a Ripe Old Age. Read all about her extraordinary life in the article Silver Star Marion Downs.
Silver Sage Gael Stuart shares gorgeous photos taken during her recent vacation along the back roads of New Hampshire and Massachusetts and the mountain trails of Colorado. Gold and rust and shades of red . . . enjoy!
Silver Star Kyra Petrovskaya Wayne