We Say Goodbye to Our Colleague Evita Rukke

It is with great regret that we inform you that, on Sunday 3 June, our museum colleague, collection specialist Evita Rukke (1979 - 2018) passed away.

Evita started to work at the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia in 2001 as a museum guide. She had graduated from Tourism School and was in her first year at the University of Latvia, studying in the History and Philosophy Department. She made an excellent guide due to her good knowledge of German. Evita's experience allowed him to continue working at the museum as a specialist. In June 2004, Evita graduated from the University of Latvia with a bachelor’s degree in history. Two years later, in June 2006, she received a master's degree in Humanities from the Latvian Academy of Culture. From 2004 to 2008, Evita worked on an Austrian - Latvian research project "The Escape of Jews to Latvia and Their Further Migration" (Die Flucht von Juden nach Lettland und ihre weitere Emigration). The aim of the project was to find out the number of Jews who had emigrated from Austria to Latvia in 1937 - 1940, where they next emigrated to, as well as eventual fates.

Evita was a helpful and friendly colleague. Her laughter made others smile, it was simply contagious. The museum will greatly miss her.