Valeriy Vainberg Owner, publisher and editor-in-chief of the world's oldest Russian-language newspaper 'New Russian Word', Date of Birth: 17.10.1945 Country: USA

1. Biography of Valery Weinberg
2. Discovering Long-Lost Relatives
3. Early Struggles in America
4. Becoming the General Director

Biography of Valery Weinberg

Valery Weinberg, the owner, publisher, and editor-in-chief of the oldest Russian-language newspaper in the world, 'Novoe russkoe slovo' (New Russian Word), was born on October 17, 1945, in Chernivtsi, Ukraine.

Discovering Long-Lost Relatives

When Valery was 12 years old, he learned that his father's relatives had been found abroad. A neighbor brought them a Polish newspaper, which astonished and delighted the Weinbergs as they read that Valery's father and sister, whom the family had believed perished in the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II, were actually alive and searching for their relatives. However, Valery's father had never mentioned to anyone that they had relatives living in the United States. He simply announced that they all needed to go to Poland and meet there. In 1958, the family moved to Poland and lived there for six years, as Valery's father fell ill. He was diagnosed with lung lesions, and in his condition, he was not allowed to enter the United States. Valery's father had to undergo surgery to remove a part of the affected lung. They were planning to move to Australia, but Valery, who had grown up, insisted on immigrating to the United States. So, in 1964, simultaneously with the British band 'The Beatles', the entire family found themselves in New York City.

Early Struggles in America

Valery, who was a fan of Theodore Dreiser's novel 'The Financier,' believed that he would quickly become rich in the United States. However, reality turned out to be much harsher than his dreams. The Weinbergs reached Montreal, Canada, on a Polish steamship, and from there, they traveled by train to New York. Polish steamships were not allowed to enter the New York port at that time to prevent the crew from escaping. Valery's father and grandfather were reunited after 27 years of separation, during which each of them believed that the other had perished. Three years later, Valery's grandfather passed away, but the memories of that reunion are still vivid in Valery's mind.

The day after the relatives arrived, Valery's aunt, claiming that everyone had to fend for themselves in America, took him to a nursing home, where she had already arranged a position for him as a kitchen assistant and server. He earned only $28 during his first week, as the owner of the nursing home took advantage of the young Valery and paid him less than half of his wages. He then found work at a small shoe factory whose owner spoke Polish. However, he had to leave after a week. Finally, his luck turned when Valery was hired in the circulation department of the 'Novoe russkoe slovo' newspaper, where his father was also looking for work in the printing house. They promised to pay him $75 for working six days a week. Valery worked in the morning and evening, and during the day, he studied English and attended the advertising department at the New York University. Gradually, he began to introduce new technologies to 'Novoe russkoe slovo,' and the newspaper's management took notice of the young and proactive employee.

Becoming the General Director

In the spring of 1973, at the age of 27, Valery became the new general director of the newspaper. He admits that initially, he did not love the printing business, but over time, he became deeply involved with the publication and eventually fell in love with it. Primarily, he enjoyed the opportunity to meet various interesting people, including renowned figures in different fields. As early as 1965, Valery had met Yevgeny Yevtushenko, was friends with Vladimir Maksimov, Vladimir Voinovich, and Bulat Okudzhava. On the eve of Joseph Brodsky receiving the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1987, Valery published his works as a spread in 'Novoe russkoe slovo.' He loves his work and considers himself a very fortunate person.