Neighbors

A series of profiles on some of the extraordinary people at the Lake and those who have made Lake Barcroft an extraordinary place to live. If you know someone who should be profiled, please contact Paula Rothenberg.

 

Flory Jagoda

HOME STORY: "When I was a child in Yugoslavia, we looked forward to going to the sea every summer. I have always loved the water. When Lake Barcroft was being developed, my husband Harry, a builder, purchased two lots on Lyric Lane. We moved into the first house he built at the corner of Cavalier Corridor and Lyric Lane. We began raising our four children there, then bought a house on Beachway. We've lived here for 25 years."

CAREER: Recipient of the 2002 National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellowship Award for lifelong excellence in the folk and traditional arts, Flory is internationally recognized for her Sephardic Jewish ballads sung in Ladino, a 15th century Spanish language that she has almost single-handedly kept from disappearing. She is working on her fourth CD, has produced The Flory Jagoda Songbook -- Memories of Sarajevo, trains gifted young musicians through a UVA apprenticeship program and performs in concerts around the world, most recently at a memorial service in Auschwitz, Germany.

HER MUSIC: "My accordion saved my life. When World War II broke out, my family had to split up to try to escape from deportation to concentration camps. My father put me on a train and instructed me not to open my mouth, just play my accordion. Terrified, my music gave me strength and made me feel safe. As I played, people sang along and the conductor never even asked for my ticket. I arrived in Italy and was interned with other Jews on the island of Korchula where I gave lessons to support my family. I married American Sergeant Harry Jagoda in Italy and migrated to the United States on a Red Cross ship, entertaining all the war brides on our trip across the Atlantic. When we arrived in Lake Barcroft, I became the 'piano lady,' giving lessons to many neighborhood children. Now, my focus is on playing classical guitar and singing Ladino songs."

FAMILY: Four adult children, three of whom have performed internationally with their mother. Betty and Andy performed in many JEB Stuart plays; Elliott had a neighborhood rock and roll band, and Lori Jagoda Lowell, who lives with her husband Jeremy and their children Ian, Ariel and Alec on Duff Drive.

Fondest Lake Barcroft memory: "For many years, on the Fourth of July, we would have a big party with 50-60 musicians from around the world. We would play music all day and many barges would drift by and enjoy the music. Then, at night, we would take our barge to watch the fireworks and I would play my accordion."

What does Lake Barcroft mean to you? "Lake Barcroft gave me a sense of family. I lost 42 family members during the Holocaust. When we moved to Lake Barcroft with two small children and another on the way, I was very lonely. Our wonderful Lake Barcroft neighbors (the Fitzgeralds, Ferrises and Speilbergs) immediately came to greet us and made us feel so welcome. It is a very special community. Unfortunately, my husband and I are getting older and are moving to a condominium, but will be back to the Lake frequently to visit my daughter and grandchildren.