- “ALL TO WORK” - Part 02

Elena looked a bit distressed when she asked Risto to quickly board the train for Bitola. The train had sat at the platform all that time waiting for Elena. She was the only passenger, besides Risto and the boys, to board the train. Because they were the only people in the coach, Elena decided to tell Risto and the boys what had happened to her while they were waiting for her. This was Elena’s first time out from the Greek border. She had a Greek passport which she had acquired especially for this trip. But when the Greek customs officer asked her some questions in Greek, a language she did not understand, she was unable to answer. The Greek officer was preparing to turn her back but luckily an officer who spoke Macedonian spoke to her and understood why she did not answer the questions. Elena said to the officer: “My dear boy I have never been to school and not many people in my village speak Greek, even our priest does not speak Greek. It is not that I don’t want to answer the man, I simply do not understand what he is asking me.”

It seems Elena handled the situation very well because most Greeks do not tolerate Macedonians not speaking Greek and speaking only Macedonian and would have done something about it. Elena was a smart woman, as she said, who simply had not learned the Greek

language. Speaking Greek in Pozdivishcha, where everyone spoke Macedonian, would have been a waste of time. She managed to quickly put her ordeal with the customs officer behind her and was very happy to meet and enjoy the company of the entire family.

Spiro remembers his grandmother having a cross over her nose. That was the first time he had seen such a thing. He had seen a cross tattooed on a woman’s forehead, which was put there to protect her from the Muslims, but this was during Ottoman times. Perhaps this cross had a similar function since the Ottomans were still there when she was a child. Spiro never did ask what the cross was for.

Spiro met his grandmother numerous times but unfortunately it was always in Bitola. The last time he met her was in Elin Pelin Bulgaria in 1977, just before she died. May she rest in peace away from her birthplace Posdivishcha. At least there she will always be with her daughter Tsveta and son in law Ilia. “May they rest in peace and forever be in our hearts,” says Spiro.

Spiro also had the occasion to meeting his aunt Aleksanda (Letsa) who lived even further away, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the former USSR. That meeting also took place on a train but this time it was totally unexpected, surprising, one may say even shocking. Every summer the Mavrovski family went to Gara Elin Pelin to visit Tsveta and Ilia Sklifov. The year 1973 was no exception. This time, however, Risto stayed in Bitola because he had to work at the refrigerator factory. After arriving at the Sklifovs in Gara Elin Pelin, Sofia received a telegram informing her that her sister Aleksandra was coming to Bitola for a visit and that the family should return to Bitola immediately.

The quickest way to Gara Elin Pelin was by bus but because the roads were very bad and Sofia had difficulty traveling long distances on buses, the family traveled from Bitola to Gara Elin Pelin by train. The trip was a journey which usually started with taking the “shinobus” train in Bitola at 2:30 am and, after stopping at every intermediate train station, arriving in Skopje by morning. In Skopje the people traveling to Sofia were transferred to a designated coach and transported by train to Belgrade, arriving there at about 9 o’clock. After its arrival, the designated coach was transferred to a

Red Cross side track at the Nish railway station to wait for the Orient Express train coming from Paris, heading for Istanbul via Sofia. After lunch, when the Orient Express train arrived, the designated wagon was attached and pulled through Pirot, Dimitrovgrad and down to Sofia where the Sofia passengers got off; sometimes before midnight and sometimes after midnight. The last train that took them to Gara Elin Pelin was the “pianski” train. Passengers were loaded on a livestock wagon with wooden benches for seats and set off towards Gara Elin Pelin at 2 o’clock in the morning. The trip took about half an hour. This is how the Mavrovski family traveled in the early days. Later, railway transport was improved which made travel a little easier and visits with the relatives a lot more pleasant.

After receiving the telegram from Risto, the Mavrovski family left Gara Elin Pelin and followed the same path back to Nish where the coach they were in was disconnected and placed on a side track to await the arrival of the Belgrade to Solun train. After a long wait the train finally arrived and started its trek for Skopje. Sometime later Sofia heard some people in their coach speaking Greek. She asked one of them where they were from. There was silence. A couple of them said from Tashkent. There was silence again when Sofia asked if there were any more of them on this train. One of them said yes, there were three families traveling together. Sofia grabbed the kids and off she went searching for them from coach to coach. About ten minutes later they found themselves in front of the cabin where they were told the last family from Tashkent was seated. There was silence after the door was opened. Sofia rushed in hugging the people and crying nonstop in silence for the next five minutes. A person with a weak heart would not have been able to survive those five long minutes. The two sisters who had not seen each other for twenty-five years had finally met on a train in the territory of Serbia. This was a complete surprise to everyone. “It is a picture stuck in my mind that I will never forget as long as I live,” says Spiro. Now Spiro knows exactly how the surviving Jews, he had seen on television, felt after returning to Israel, after being separated for 20 to 30 years. The difference between the Jews and us Macedonians is that the Jews were able to return to Israel, their homeland, but Greece still does not want us Macedonians back.

There was another shock for the Mavrovski family back in Bitola. At about the same time the family arrived in Bitola, a taxi stopped in front of the building where the Mavrovski family was living and out came Metodia, Spiro’s grandfather, on his mother’s side. This too was unexpected but also disappointing because Elena, Spiro’s grandmother, was not with him. Elena very much wanted to see her oldest daughter and Aleksandra also wanted to see her mother, at least one last time, but unfortunately it was not meant to be. And as such, both mother and daughter died with wishes unfulfilled. They both died in different parts of the world, far away from their native hearth. Aleksandra was left to rest in peace in Tashkent along with her husband Giorgi and their son Mihail, who died in a car accident very young, at age 27. The last thing the Mavrovski family heard about Aleksandra in Tanskent was from Petar Stoikovski-Babets, Lena’s (Spiro’s wife) father when he and the “Bitola Theater” toured Tashkent. Aleksandra went to visit Petar and told him that she had applied to return to Greece and was waiting for a response. She wanted to return to Pozdivishcha and be with her father Metodia.

Spiro remembers the stories his grandfather Metodia told him about the living conditions in Greece and how terribly Macedonians were treated, yet this did not detract the old man from loving his homeland and place of birth or turn him into a hard man. He was a wise, warm old man full of memories, had a big heart and soul and a great desire to learn about the Republic of Macedonia, Spiro’s homeland.

During a meeting with actor Iosif Iosifovski who was part of the theater, but also part of the commission in Brailovo in 1948 responsible for disbursing the Macedonian refugee children to the various socialist republics, Iosif confessed to Spiro’s grandfather that, if he had the strength and courage at this point in his life, he would take his own life for what he had done in 1948, because now, 35 years later, he sees the results of his actions and what he had done to our people. This meeting had taken place sometime in the beginning of the 1980’s. There is nothing more to say!

The documents Aleksandra was waiting for never arrived in Tashkent, and as such Spiro’s aunt who lived alone, died alone. The only connection with them in the Tashkent cemetery was a

wonderful man named Aleksander Mirzamamedov, a handball player who, a long time ago, played with Pelister. Spiro begged him once in a while to light a candle on the graves of Spiro’s dear aunt, uncle and cousin. May they rest in peace!

Vasil - Risto and Sofia’s second born son

Vasil, Risto and Sofia’s second son was born on July 31, 1959. He was named Vasil after Sofia’s brother Vasil who died at age 17 fighting for DAG. With Vasil’s birth the Mavrovski family grew to four members. After Vasil was born Sofia quit her job and stayed home to look after her children. There was no one else, no grandparents to look after them.

Vasil’s story from his own point of view

Even though Vasil, or Vasko as he is known to the family and friends, was born to Risto and Sofia, he is now known as Vasil Iliev Sklifov the adopted son of Ilia and Tsveta Sklifov. Vasil and his family currently live in Sofia, Bulgaria. His wife’s name is Mariana Sklifova Busheva, originally from Macedonia. Her grandfather on her mother’s side was from Krushevo. He was one of the first refugees to flee after the Ilinden Uprising. Vasil has two children named Tsvetanka and Risto. Tsvetanka is on her second marriage, married to a man named Petar Giorgiev Goleshov, originally from Kukush Region, Greek occupied Macedonia. Tsvetanka has two children named Biliana and Veselin who now live in Gara Elin Pelin. Vasil’s son Risto lives in Sofia together with his second wife named Stela Vilmosh originally from Ruse, Northern Bulgaria. They have a daughter named Vesilena. Risto also has a 13 year old son named Mario from his first marriage.

Vasil remembers his father Risto as a great man who will forever remain that way in his memory. He was the type of father who made his children think. His motto was: “peace of mind is more valuable than amassing wealth”, “never rush, measure five times and cut once”, “never make one spindle from nine beech trees” (never be wasteful). This applied to Vasil, as he puts it, because he got married at age 17 and that is why he remembers the things Risto taught him.

Vasil remembers a few things from his life in Bitola. He remembers his father going out to work in various places in Yugoslavia as a tradesman. One time Vasil remembers Risto leaving for either Slovenia or Croatia to fix a large compressor of a refrigeration unit, which he repaired in a record time. The company director rewarded him with a can of horse meat. Horse meat in Poland, as Risto remembered, was a specialty meat. Risto and others like him were rewarded not only because they knew how to do their job but also for their care and honesty.

Almost every week in the summer, as a child, Vasil remembers going down to the Dragor River, usually to the “Topla Voda” locality, with his uncle Nikola and cooking stew, catching fish with fishing rods, blocking the river’s water flow to make large pools and swimming with him.

There was one event that Vasil cannot forget. As he did many times before, Vasil wanted to go out to the playground and play. This time however there was a sports game at the city stadium, which Vasil’s father Risto, his uncle Nikola and his brother Spiro, who were all great fans of FK (football club) Pelister, wanted to see. The stadium was some distance away from “Ivan Milutinovich” Street and Vasil was not that much interested in going. Besides, he wanted to go to the washroom and there were no toilets in the stadium. Vasil decided to go to the playground on his own and when he noticed there was not much going on, he left and went home. Sofia, his mother, asked him why he was not with the others. Vasil told her that he felt a bit sick after which he had something to eat and went to bed. Thinking that Vasil was with them, the three (Risto, Nikola and Spiro) looked for him everywhere but were unable to find him. Spiro was blamed for this because, for some reason, they felt he was responsible for losing his brother. Being unable to find him, the three eventually came home very concerned. The moment they walked in Sofia asked them: “Risto where is your child?” She then scolded him with the words: “You should never again leave him alone to return from the playground!” This took place when Vasil was only five years old.

After Vasil was sent to Bulgaria to live with his adopted parents Tsveta (Sofia’s sister) and Ilia, there was no summer spent without

his brother Spiro and sister Neda. As mentioned earlier, the Mavrovski family visited Vasil in Gara Elin Pelin every summer for two to three weeks at a time. Spiro visited for longer periods up to 3 months. When Vasil was a little older he drove his relatives through Pirin Macedonia; Blagoevgrad, Petrich, Sandanski and Zlatarevo. They often stopped at various places on the way. One day they stopped in the Kresnovska gorge along the Struma River to dine on fish. Because of the many customers they had that day, the service staff, instead of bringing them three fish like they ordered, brought them only two. Sofia did not eat when she traveled to avoid motion sickness. Risto was curious as to how his order was mixed up but divided the two fish among the three of them without causing any fuss. Vasil never took them to that place again.

These were good times that Vasil will always remember. Macedonia is a beautiful place and he now understands why his parents were so willing to sacrifice their lives for it when they were so young.

Vasil’s memories of Bitola, which he speaks of here, were from 1959 to 1966 before he left Bitola and went to Bulgaria. Most of these memories are inextricably linked with the children who lived on “Ivan Milutinovick” street number 13/15 and on “Sveti Naum” street number 1. Vasil remembers playing football, hide and seek and other outdoors games with them. He remembers seizing a bean sandwich from Atsko Baiovski, a neighbour kid. Vasil tried to take a bite from Atsko’s sandwich but he would not let him, so he told the kid to turn around to see the bird that was falling from the sky. When Atsko did Vasil grabbed his entire sandwich and ran off. Then, when he came home, his mother and father forced him to go back and apologize to Atsko and take an entire pot full of beans and give it to his mother. This was an embarrassing lesson for Vasil, one he will never forget. Now he jokes about it because he was only a child then.

Vasil’s best friend, in the days he lived in Bitola, was Pero Malkov with whom he was able to play all day, everyday and not get bored. He ran with Pero and even fought and chased other kids with him. They went to the market together and spent a long time enjoying each other’s company. Vasil lost contact with Pero and, for a long time, did not know where he was. More recently he found out that

Pero had joined the Yugoslav military and became a high ranking officer. He may even have fought in the 1993 War. After that he returned with the last JNA units to Bitola, to his family. Vasil believes he now lives in Bitola and wishes him and his family all the best.

In 1970 when Vasil was 11 years we old, he and his family went to visit his oldest aunt Aleksanda (Letsa) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan’s capital city in the USSR. They traveled from Sofia to Moscow for two days and three nights and from Moscow station to Tashkent for three days and three nights. His aunt lived in the Greek neighbourhood; that’s what it was called then. It was also known as the 13th town. This was the first time Vasil saw his uncle Giorgi who seemed like a good man; but his aunt was even nicer. Vasil also met his cousins Elena and Mihail with whom he spent every day swimming in the lake located in the city centre in a huge park. Vasil thought the city was a beautiful place with many fruit trees growing and everything was green and lush. Until then he had not seen a place like this. The watermelons were particularly grand; the large ones were long and very sweet weighing between 20 and 25 kilograms.

Vasil met with his cousin Lena a couple more times, the second time in Bitola. The last time Vasil saw his cousin Mihail was in Bitola. Later, Mihail was involved in an unfortunate car crash and died from it in Tashkent at age 27. Vasil also met Lena in Gara Elin Pelin in 1982. This was when she had come to Bulgaria with her husband Giorgi and their two children. Now they live in Atalanti, 90 kilometres outside of Athens, Greece, where Vasil’s brother (Spiro) took his parents for a visit in 2003. Vasil hopes next year, after lengthy negotiations with the Greek authorities, he will finally be able to go and visit with her.

About his father Risto, Vasil once again says, “He was a great man and may he rest in peace.”

During this time there were also the visits that took place between Risto and Sofia, and Sofia’s parents. These were touching encounters that took place after ten to twelve years of separation. When Risto and Sofia left their places of birth they were children

themselves. Now they were adults with children of their own. These encounters were happy and sad; painful moments for all the people involved, not only because of the long separation, but also because most Macedonians who left Greek occupied Macedonia during and after the wars were not allowed to return to their homes.

In 1958 Ilia and Tsveta (Sofia’s sister) Sklifovski came to the Republic of Macedonia, but because they could not find a place to live in Bitola they moved to Shtip. But when Kuzo Sklifov, Ilia’s brother arrived, they all moved to Tetovo.

Risto and Sofia were not Yugoslav citizens until the summer of 1961, when they first submitted their application for citizenship to the Yugoslav authorities. At that time they had already decided to remain in Bitola. Until then they were political immigrants. After receiving their citizenship, Risto and Sofia also received identity cards, passports, etc. After that Risto was again sent for a medical evaluation and was classified as a “disabled war veteran” with all rights and privileges due to him.

Neda, Risto and Sofia’s daughter and youngest child

A year after Risto and Sofia became Yugoslav citizens, their third child Neda was born. Neda, named after Risto’s beloved mother, was born on February 17, 1962. Even with the birth of another child, the Mavrovski family continued to live in the same apartment. Sofia stayed home to look after the children as Risto went to work to support them. As the children grew they were enrolled in primary school, then in secondary school and eventually Spiro went to university. It was not until the spring of 1978 that the Mavrovski family was issued a new apartment. This one was larger, about 55 square metres, located on Mirka Ginova Street number 13/42, close to the new hospital. Spiro, Risto and Sofia’s oldest son completed his education at the Electro Technical Faculty. Neda had difficulty learning and did not complete high school. She took typing and sewing courses and was hired by the Elpida Karamandi factory but later was laid off due to downsizing.

The period from 1958 to 1978

Refrigerators

About a month after the Mavrovski family arrived in Bitola, Done Mandzhukov from Zlelevo came to Bitola. He was a good friend of Petre Novachev from the village Oshchima. Petre was a fighter and a leader during the war who was later appointed director of the Bitola Community. Done was a great friend of Risto’s father and a neighbour back in Zhelevo. Done’s relationship with Petre helped Risto get his job and later his new apartment. When Done saw how Risto and his family were living in the hotel, under terrible conditions, and that no one was interested in helping them, he took Risto directly to Petre and introduced him as his nephew, after which he explained Risto’s situation. Done asked Petre to do something for Risto. He specifically asked Petre to find Risto a job. Risto informed Petre of the kind of work he had done in Poland and his qualifications. Petre then sent Risto to Pando, Director of the Employment Agency. When Pando saw Risto, Risto gave him a letter from Petre, after which Pando promised to contact him soon and that he would have a job for him. Risto was contacted on October 26, 1957, at which time Risto was told to report for probationary work at the foundry in then “Giorgi Naumov” refrigerator manufacturing factory in Bitola. Much thanks to Done for his help, Risto now had a job which he started on October 28, 1957. Risto was given the job and was already working even before his certificates were translated from Polish to Macedonian.

In November 1957 Risto enrolled in a course to learn the Macedonian language as well as to upgrade the qualifications that he had built up in Poland, including recognition of his diploma. The course lasted nine months which Risto finished, but there were problems with the translation of the documents from Polish to Macedonian and as such validation of his certification took a little longer than Risto expected. Risto’s documents were sent to the Ministry of Education which verified them and certified Risto as a KV locksmith. But Risto did not remain there for too long.

Risto worked in the foundry until March 1958. He did various jobs there but then was transferred to a new department called the Investment and Development Department. Risto was there until May 1958, after which he was moved to a new department called the

Department of Commercial Services. By this point in time the factory had begun to produce new window model refrigerators, box freezers and cooling systems for commercial use to freeze meat and to keep cakes cool in shops, etc.

At this point in time Risto worked as a KV locksmith fitter. His assistants were Franz and Tome and his boss was Igor Klochko. Risto remained in this department until it was dissolved in 1961. From then on, until the spring of 1962, Risto worked at the plant for household appliances. In March1962 he was moved to the industrial machinery and compressor plant. Risto worked at the Tsevera plant for industrial grade compressing and other equipment with the following officials: Branko Bordanovski, Tode (Kaleshko) Hristovski, Nevrus Amedov, Mito Matevski, Ivan Adziev, Risto Grozdanov, Hristian Grozdanov, Tsane Traikovski, Vlado Dimitrov, Blagoi Kiprovski and others. The work that was done there was not only inside the plant but included visits to the field. Anything that appeared defective, required repairs, or was not working properly had to be examined by one or more of these people. This was done throughout all of Yugoslavia.

Places where field work was done included “Mesopromet” in Belgrade, the horse slaughterhouse in Batainitsa, “Mitros” in Sremska Mitrovitsa, Velika Plana, Smederevo, Kralievo, Chachak, Bosanska Gradiska, Kosovo Polie, Urosevats, Kladovo “Gerdap”, Skopje, Shtip, Tetovo, Gevgelia, Prilep, Veles, Struga, Ohrid, Resen and in Bitola at “Porodin”, “Lozar”, Kisela voda, Konservna, Mlekarna (dairy), Klanitsa (slaughterhouse), Pivara (brewery) and the cooler in Dovledzik. Risto personally visited most of these facilities and personally carried out the repairs. The Bitola plant, during this period of time, produced many generations of apprentices who learned their trade there. Included among them were:

First generation: Tsane Proeski, Vlade Dimitrov, Krste Krstevski (Krtsulo), Ivan Adziev and others.

Second generation: Risto Grozdanov, Hristian Grozdanov, Blagoi Kiprovski, Mite Nikolovski, Petraki Miloshevski, Mite Tashevski and others.

Third generation: Blagoi (Dzhombe), Vasko, Borche, Blagoi (Babusho) and others.

The third generation was all young people who Risto personally encouraged to complete their education then learn the craft and become excellent workers and people. They were Risto’s greatest pride and, to the last day that Risto worked, they showed him and his family great respect.

Many Macedonians from Greek occupied Macedonia who lived in the same building with Risto also worked alongside him. He knew many from the time they had fought together in DAG. Some he knew from Poland. So that they are not forgotten, Risto took the opportunity to mention most of them here. Included among Risto’s co-workers were Kole Giorgievski, Tashko Botsev, Aristidi Gatsov, Niko Giorgievski, Sotir Asencharov, Pavle Gulevski, Done Panovski, Vasko Ristevski and Vangel Paskov.

A course for VKV locksmiths and installers was set up in the factory which Risto attended for nine months, as mentioned earlier. He passed all subjects both in theory and practice. This qualified him to do the work he was doing. Later a special school was established in the electrical technical centre “Diuro Salai” Bitola. Risto applied to that school as well and did his practical work at the plant. After successfully passing all tests he became a VKV fitter for industrial compressors. So now Risto also had a diploma from a Macedonian institution. Risto wanted to further advance his education in the technical sciences but a major hurdle in his way was his family and the need to take care of his wife and children.

Risto stayed at this factory until he retired on February 28, 1978.

In addition to working all this time, Risto was also actively involved in other activities at the plant, such as:

- Many times he was elected member of the work council

- Member of various committees

- Trade union activist

- Member elected by the collective grouping “Rade Konchar” Zagreb and rewarded a silver plaque for its successful operation

- After the football club was formed, Risto joined its management and performed various functions

From what Risto remembers, included among the general directors who served in the factory from 1957 to 1978, were Lale, Vele rusiot, Giush, Geraka, Mito Markovski, Gotse, Zhivko Popovski and Kire Altiparmak. Risto did not write the names of the technical directors and other managers because their number was very large. Included among the plethora of skilled workers in the factory were engineers, economists, lawyers and other experts.

Risto’s entire engagement at the factory was for the workers, he never asked for anything for himself personally.

Risto’s social life

Risto had always been active in all the communities where he lived and involvement in the local communities in “Todor Angelevski” and later in “Estreia Ovadia Mara” was no exception. When he was employed Risto always made free time to actively participate in the various Boards and Committees of the two communities. Included with Risto at both communities were Risto Filovski, Blazhe Trpenovski and another Blazhe. When Risto moved to his new apartment he first joined the “Kole Lacheto” community and later the “Gorgi Naumov” community. In “Gorgi Naumov” he became involved in various committees and was appointed commander of a special platoon for Territorial Defense, until it was disbanded. The local community then appointed Risto to the municipal board of fighters in Bitola and the region, which lasted four years. Risto was also a delegate, mandated many times, of the “War Invalids of Bitola”. He was part of the presidency and board of the club “Fourth of July” the day of the fighter, in various committees and participated in many activities for which he was awarded certificates, awards and prizes by the organization. Risto continued

these activities past retirement age and was active until the day he died.

Sports in Bitola

Sports were valued activities in Bitola, which slowly developed with the birth of various football (soccer) teams like “Rabotnik”, “Pelister”, “Bitola”, “Pelagonia”, “Transkop” and “Metalets”, handball clubs like “Rabotnik”, “Pelister” and “Pelagonia, basketball clubs like “Rabotnik” and “Pelister”, athletics club “Olimpia”, cycling club “Partisan”, and boxing club “Rabotnik”. Skiing and hiking was done on Mount Pelister. Less often, trips were taken to Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa for water activities, but at that time the facilities were not yet quite developed. Risto personally was a big fan of all sports, not just when he was in Bitola but throughout his entire life. He played sports when he was in Zhelevo, when he was a partisan, in the hospitals where he was treated and in the factories where he worked. He always participated in sports, especially in Bogatina when a football club was formed in which Risto played together with Micho Iankula and Tanas Voinov. It was during this time that Risto also fell in love with boxing.

Boxing in Poland was a high quality and much valued sport. Boxers were trained in the party schools, in the military academies, in the wagon factory and almost everywhere in Shvidnitsa. They had a boxing club in the wagon factory where Risto worked, along with a football club named “Stal”. Here, Risto actively participated in the boxing club and trained for two things, skill and personal development. The skills Risto acquired from the various sports he participated in remained with him during his entire life. He was particularly fond of football, boxing, handball and basketball. They were his first choices followed by athletics, motor racing, ice hockey and horse racing. At a later time when he was involved with the disabled veterans he began to play darts, chess and archery. Risto was responsible for these disciplines and actively participated in dart tournaments where he won several times, was crowned champion and given many awards.

Risto continued to hold on to his love of sports even at an older age and together with his brother Nikola and Son Spiro, manages to

attend every sport competition that took place in Bitola; be it football, handball, basketball, boxing… it had become a family tradition.

Spiro’s view on sports

“Sport has been something of a cult which filled much of my father’s life,” says Spiro.

According to Spiro, Risto brought the sport with him from distant Poland which, in those days, was much more valued and of higher quality than the sport they play nowadays. When the Mavrovski family arrived in Bitola in 1958-1959, one of the first things Risto did was take his son Spiro to the Bitola City Stadium, which at the time was still under construction. Spiro has the photographs to prove it. So, from those early days Risto instilled the love of sport in Spiro which has not changed to this day. Risto carried the same spirit to the day he died. Spiro has no words to express what he saw, did and experienced with his father in the last fifty years. It was very simple, every Saturday and Sunday from early in the morning, from about 10 am to about 3 pm, they were in the stadium. After that they came home for something to eat and were out again, this time to the park to watch or participate in handball or basketball tournaments. Later, after the sports hall “Mladost” was constructed they went to the hall. It was a great experience. During the 70’s and 80’s the hall became very popular where great games were played, like nowhere else in Macedonia.

Handball was a hit in all of Macedonia from the moment it was introduced in the first Yugoslav league in 1975. The handball league was a continuation of the Bitola handball club which had three teams that represented Macedonia in various competitions. The three teams were “Rabotnik”, “Bitola” and “Pelagonia”. All three teams had great players who contributed to the development of sport in Bitola. Spiro can still remember the first games played under the floodlights in the city handball court of the second Yugoslav league. He remembers the ground being paved, the first grandstand on the city promenade being built and enclosed from the side so that the physical fitness and training centre could become a part of it from

where the fans could watch the handball qualifications and later the matches in the first division.

Spiro, at this point, would like to mention the names of the long-time players who played in the Bitola handball teams, and would also like to apologize to those he neglected to mention. Included among the trainers and coaches was Liubo Hristovski Barbako who left for Skopje and led the “Rabotnik” team, the goalkeepers Bone Traikovski, Kitsa and Guli, the players Vangel Simev - Ovtsata, Atanas Nashoku - Sako, Risto Kostadinov – Chatle, Stoian Damianovski - Chotata, Stamato, Laze Baevski, Petse Tsrniot, Belkata, Petse Dimitrov one of the best handball players playing for “Bitola” who also played for “Pelister” but not a lot, Paio, Rusmir, Karabegovich and Zhuiovich. Spiro would also like to mention some of the younger players including Nikola Hristovski – Kaleshot, Stevche Stefanovski – Tsrevoto, Dane Bachevski, Tsane Krstevski – Tsaurot and Abdula Iusufovski.

When “Pelister” was in the first league and was one of the better teams, close to being sacred, at that time when “Metaloplastika” was a multiple European champion, it was led by Silian Mitsevski – Tsile and it had well-known and well-recognized coaches and even better handball players like Munitich, Kostelich, Kamenitsa, Roganovich, Magdinchev, Krste Andonovski, as well as Borko Iovichich, Festich, Vancho Iovanovski, Zechevich, Savevski, Shuman, Shandor, Hodik first in Bitola, Pepi Manaskov legend in Bitola and in the Macedonian sport and Vilarov.

Included among those who still contribute to the sport are Stevche Alushovski, Ive Markovski, Kire Popovski, Boro Churlevski, Itse Damianovski, Zvonko Shundovski, Dragan Marinkovich, Atse Stankovski, Igor Nikolovski most grateful player Spiro knows, Zlatko Dimitrovski, Aleksandar Zarkov, Kire Lazarov, Naumche and Zlatko Moisovski, Vlatko Temelkov, Petar Angelov – Divi, Vlatko Mitkov, Atso Ionovski, Sashe Iankulovski, Makalovski, Petar Misovski, Toskovski and many others who, since 1999 until 2008, were represented by Spiro who then was President of the club. To Spiro and Risto’s delight, as well as to the delight of all of Bitola, in 2001 this team got to play for the “Challenger Cup” at the

European finals. At the same time the female team “Kometal Giorche Petrov” was also a European first.

These Macedonian teams continue to play and represent Macedonia to this day and have won games against “Kazan” (Russian team), “Paris en Zhermen” (French team), “Kilkis” (Greek team), “Frederisberg” (Copenhagen) and lost in the finals against “Skeri” (Denmark). Included amongst the players in the “Pelister” team were: Petar Angelov, Gorbah, Toskovski, Zlatko Dimitrovski, Makalovski, Vladimir Temelkov, Zlatko Moisovski, Naumche Moisovski, Atso Ionovski, Igor Nikolovski, Vladimir Mitkov, Risto Kalaidzhievski and Zvonko Shindovski. Team coach Bogdan Makovei, assistant coaches Stivche Stefanovski and Zoran Atanasovski also trainer of the goalies. Spiro Mavrovski was president of the club. Included in the Board were Petar Gatsov, Atso Delov, Stevo Peikovski, Mite Krstevski, Kole and Tsanche.

Events in Risto’s life

1928 – Risto’s birth 1932 – Risto’s sister Sofia is born (Risto’s only sister) 1933 – Risto is sent to nursery school in the village. Hitler comes to power in Germany 1934 – Risto goes to first grade in the village school 1935 – Risto goes to second grade and starts work looking after the cattle 1936 – Risto goes to third grade. Metaxas’s military dictatorship takes power in Greece 1937 – Risto goes to fourth grade. His youngest brother Nikola is born 1938 – As punishment the teacher fails the entire class, to repeat the same grade 1939 – Risto continued with fifth grade. World War II starts 1940 – Risto goes to sixth grade. Italy attacks Greece 1941 – Greece occupied by Germany, Italy and Bulgaria. The Italians come to Zhelevo and hunger and death takes hold in the major cities in Greece 1942 – Risto works on farm to grow food and to prepare for uprising

1943 – The first partisans appear and so do Kalchev’s armed hoods. People from Zhelevo are killed in Kostur. Italy capitulates on September 9, 1943 1944 – Neda, Risto’s mother is dropped in a pool of water by the Germans until she almost drowns. Later the Germans leave and the partisans arrive. The English occupy Athens in the fall 1945 – The Royal government arrives in Greece. Greece experiences 2nd occupation. Second World War ends 1946 - Spiro, Risto’s older brother gets married. The Mavrovski men renovate the house. A new armed struggle begins 1947 – Partisans begin to drift towards the mountains. Spiro joins the armed conflict, followed soon by Risto 1948 – Risto’s mother Neda dies. Risto’s brother Nikola is taken to Hungary with the refugee children. Spiro and Risto are fighting for the partisans. Mihail, Risto’s father, is captured in Albania 1949 – Spiro, Risto’s brother gets killed in June. Risto gets wounded on August 28 and was taken to Albania. Mihail and Risto’s sister Sofia remained in the village 1950 – Risto attends Party school in Zgorzelets 1951 – Risto attends military school at school “500” 1952 – Risto is in Shvidnitsa working in the train wagon manufacturing factory 1953 – Risto is in Shvidnitsa working and studying at the wagon manufacturing factory. Stalin dies 1955 – Risto marries Sofia Rosi from the village Pozdivishta. Risto’s brother Nikola arrives in Poland from Hungary 1956 – Risto attends Party school in Vrotslav. Sofia stays with Nikola and Tanas (Risto’s brother and cousin). A revolution takes place in Hungary 1957 – Spiro, Risto’s first son, is born on April 9. The Mavrovski family leaves Poland for Macedonia on August 28 and arrives in Bitola on September 9. The family takes residence in hotel “Solun”. 1958 – Risto gets a job at the refrigerator manufacturing plant “Gorgi Naumov”, moves to a new apartment on “Ivan Milutinovic” street number 13/12, attends Macedonian language courses and is visited by Sofia’s parents from Greece 1959 – Risto’s second son Vasil is born on July 31 1960 – Risto receives visitors from Greece, his father Mihail and his father-in-law Metodi and mother-in-law Elena. Risto is also visited by his sister-in-law Tsveta and her husband Ilia Sklifov.

1961 – Risto’s brother Nikola gets married. Tsveta and Ilia Sklifov move first to Shtip then to Tetovo 1962 – Risto’s daughter and third child is born on February 17. She is named Neda after Risto’s mother 1963 – Spiro, Risto’s son starts school. Tsveta and Ilia Sklifov leave for Bulgaria. A strong earthquake hits Skopje on July 26 1964 – Mihail, Risto’s father, dies at age 61. The Mavrovski family for the first time takes a seaside vacation in Bulgaria while visiting Tsveta and Ilia Sklifov 1965 – Risto’s sister Sofia comes for a visit to Bitola. Risto sees his sister for the first time since 1947 1966 – Vasil (Vasko), Risto’s son leaves for Bulgaria. Risto’s sister Sofia and family leave permanently for Canada 1967 – Risto goes to Trieste, Italy in the spring to a trade show 1968 – Risto goes to the USSR for the first time to visit his cousin Ilia Ianu in Voronezh, and Sofia’s sister Aleksandra in Tashkent. Intervention in Czechoslovakia by Warsaw Pact in August 1969 – Risto attends courses and receives VKV diploma 1970 – 1978, Risto is employed at the “Gorgi Naumov” refrigerator plant 1976 – Spiro, Risto’s son, begins his studies at the Electro Technical Faculty in Skopje. Risto’s younger son marries Mariana Vusheva in Sofia 1977 – Elena, Sofia’s mother (Risto’s mother-in-law), dies in Gara Elin Pelin, Bulgaria 1978 – Risto retires from his job on March 1 and the family moves to a larger apartment further away from downtown. Initially the street was called REMO 2 street “Partizanka” and later was renamed to “Mirka Ginova” number 13/42. Vasil’s first child, Tsvetanka is born 1979 – Risto and Sofia roam the mountainside collecting herbs in order to sell them and help their children. Vasil’s second child, Risto, is born 1981 – Spiro, Risto’s older son, marries Elena Stoikovska Babets. The marriage takes place on May 10. Spiro’s son Vasko was born the same year on September 10 1983 – Neda, Risto’s daughter starts high school 1984 – Spiro is drafted into the Yugoslav army on November 4. First sent to Nish and later to Vranie 1985 – Neda, Risto’s daughter, gets married to Zdrave 1986 – Spiro starts work at REK Bitola as an electrical engineer

1987 – Mail (Mihail), Nikola’s son, gets married. Risto’s sister Sofia comes from Canada to Bitola for a visit 1991 – Neda gives birth to her daughter Mare 1998 – Vasko, Spiro’s son, becomes director of production in REK Bitola 1998-2002 1999 – Vasko, Spiro’s son, becomes member of NATFIZ -Academy of Artists in Sofia 2002 – Spiro, Risto’s son, is elected Member of Parliament in the Macedonian Parliament from 2002 to 2006. 2003 – Vasko, Spiro’s son, finishes Academy in Sofia. Spiro takes Risto to Greece for a ten day vacation, to visit Spiro’s cousin Elena in Atalanti, Athens, the Peloponnesus and all of Greece

Spiro’s view of his father Risto Mavrovski

Following are some of Spiro’s personal thoughts about events in his own life connected with his father’s exodus, Risto’s life in Bitola and the sports and other events Risto participated in which he discussed with Spiro. Risto advised Spiro on many things and informed him of events that are now deeply engraved in Spiro’s memory and will remain there for the rest of his life.

Spiro’s relationship with his father was very intense, in a good way. They got along well all the time. Risto felt that Spiro had been deprived of his grandparents (Risto’s parents) and as such Risto tried to fill in for them. Spiro met his grandfather Mihail for a brief time when he was very young (three years old) and that was only for a few days. Spiro visited with his grandfather Metodia and grandmother Elena, on his mother’s side, many times but he did not grow up with them and the visits were short. While growing up, Spiro and his siblings spent a great deal of time with their parents which brought them very close together. Risto was not only Spiro’s father but also his grandfather, his brother and his best friend. His advice to Spiro always was; work hard, be honest, be sincere and try to love everyone. Risto’s advice and criticisms were valued by Spiro and Risto continued to advise him even when Spiro was a parliamentarian in the Macedonian Parliament. Spiro, on the other hand, respected his father’s criticisms, suggestions and advice, they were very important to him. Spiro believes his life has been well shaped by the influence of his father. Spiro misses him very much.

Spiro believes that Risto will be with us spiritually as long as we continue to remember him and we will all do well following his advice especially during times of crisis.