Kellerman, Roman

Son of Anna and Abraham. He was born on 27.5.1973 in the city of Nadra in Moldova, the former Soviet Union. The eldest son of a family of two children. In the schools in his city, Roman acquired his education and popular and elementary education, and in professional high schools he specialized in electronics. As an adult he enjoyed working in this field, dismantling and repairing various electrical appliances. Was a good student and loved by his friends. A year after graduating, in 1991, a novel came to Israel, two weeks before his family, in order to avoid being drafted into the Russian army. For a year and a half the family lived in Kiryat Motzkin and in 1993 moved to Migdal Ha’emek. Roman studied at a Hebrew ulpan and helped his uncle work at a restaurant. On weekends he traveled with friends around the country to get to know and acclimatize. In January 1994, Roman was drafted into the IDF and assigned to the Nahal Brigade. After a car maintenance course, he was appointed as a maintenance coordinator in one of the IAF battalions. He liked his army service, but at the same time asked for and received a permit to work in industry, to help support the family, and even save money for studies and weddings with his girlfriend. His friends in the unit say that he was a serious and responsible person, quiet and courteous, optimistic and full of plans for the future. He was very devoted to his family and helped with all the housework. Roman was killed in a car accident, about three weeks before the liberation, on June 17, 1996. After his death he was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant. Survived by his parents and a younger sister – Victoria. Roman was brought to rest in the military section of the cemetery in Migdal Haemek. He was twenty-three years old when he fell. In his letter to the bereaved family, Lieutenant Colonel Dror, the battalion commander, wrote: “Staff Sergeant Roman Kellerman was an exemplary soldier and performed his duties in peace and quiet. He gained many friends and was highly regarded by his commanders. We knew him as a soldier who did his best, without any complaints or hesitations. Every task needed a responsible soldier, Roman was sent to her. We will miss Roman, his commanders and friends, as a soldier who knows how to listen to his friends. We will have a novel, which he always counted in his hand, as a dedicated and responsible soldier “