During the WWII, prior to the Nazi occupation of Riga, chose not to join his family that evacuated to Siberia. Was caught and spent some time in the Ghetto from where escaped and spent the rest of the war in the basement hidden by his Latvian lover. His family never forgave him his refusal to join them. Except during the was had exacerbations of the bipolar disorder (mildly hypomanic most of the time and periodic psychotic depression), was hospitalized. Died by suicide (drowning). Was very king to grandkids. Brought Jewish tradition to the family (celebrated Seder, went to the Shul w/ his son-in-law.) SY