Valentina Pavlovna

Valentina Pavlovna was born into a large family of a sailor in Sopushkino. Her mother, Karbasnikova Yakolevna was from a wealthy family, and she had 6 children (5 boys and 1 girl), all of whom survived World War Two. 

She studied at a shipbuilding technical school in Arkhangelsk and, in 1945, she went to Leningrad to work in a hospital, Central Clinical Hospital No. 17, which she worked in until 1948. 

The two met in 1947 in Leningrad, considered by all who knew them as love at first sight, and they got married on the 22nd April, 1948. He was known to play guitar and sing in a soft voice, and his wife was known as a cheerful, mischievous singer. They would both sing together throughout their lives. Emil enjoyed the song "Cranes", a song about soldiers killed in combat not dying but instead turning into beautiful white cranes (a type of bird).

They were not wealthy people. They did not have an apartment, a home, or even a car, but they had many friends. They valued human qualities above all else, and they carried this belief long throughout their lives. 

In 1952, as a Senior Lieutenant, he graduated from the Highest Special Officer Classes of Scuba Diving and Anti-Submarine Defence in Vladivostok. Around this time, he was living in Baku, renting a room from an Armenian woman. 

In 1954, he was a Lieutenant Commander, had a young daughter, Larisa, and was finally given a two-room apartment for his new family to live in. It was relatively modern, hosting two modern stoves, a bed, a crib, even a drawer which had been adapated into a toy table for the children. Valentina was known to hang up blankets as curtains to help keep the apartment warm, and despite the modesty of apartment living, they were very comfortable. Spiridonov was a sailor at heart, with his family describing that his true home was at sea, but any hour he was at home with them, the house was illuminated by his presence. 

In a funny story from his daughter, Larisa, she said that when his wife became ill, and was taken to hospital, he was forced to remain at home with his daughter, and made boiled sausage and soup for her, claiming that in the war years, many people couldn't even dream of food like that. She reluctantly ate it, but it was memorable to her considering how strange it was.

In 1957, after their second child, Nikolai, was born, they were given a second apartment, larger than the first, meaning the children were given their own room rather than having to share it with their parents. Emil Spiridonov frequently travelled to visit his own parents in Frunze, where they would recall his childhood years and speak long into the night. In a letter from his father, we find out that their parting was quite emotional:

"Everything was fine at the airfield, everyone was smiling and waving, well, there were tears in my soul and when we arrived home."

As Emil was frequently away (which was common amongst military families), the care for the home and for their children was left with Valentina. She was frequently awarded certificates for social activities, notably for work in parent committees and school, and for the good upbringing of her children. 

It was a common occurence for her to invite friends and neighbours around to drink tea, sew, knit, or just to talk. She often spoke her mind, but was humble and took great care as a housewife, ensuring she had a clean house, especially for when guests were around. A stickler for etiquette, she always set the table according to every rule of hospitality, and she often sang in company, and she was always willing to sing with her husband, Emil. 

She was known to take great pride in her appearance and was very fashionable, and often spent extensive time at the hairdresser (often requiring two sessions) due to her thick hair. This caused, according to those who knew her, a lot of men to pay attention to her, but she always remained faithful to her husband, claiming that she would die for him. 

Emil often sent his family on holiday to Southern Russia even if he could not go with them. He did not mind this, often reminding his children via letters that he was protecting them from far across the globe on the other side of Russia. 

"Don't forget that far, far away at the other end of the Motherland, your father, like all the sailors of our fleet, guards your peace. Never forget those at sea."

He and Valentina never argued or raised their voices at each other, which was believed to be the reason they were so happy together. It was believed by their children that the love they held for each other also directly influenced the love and respect their children had for them. 

In 1962, his family celebrated the revolution in Cuba, but his wife was upset as it had come to light that Emil would be travelling to Cuba as commander of his submarine, however they were not eventually needed, so he remained at home. This, however, later resulted in a meeting with Fidel Castro's brother, Raul, which took place in 1978.

In 1966, his daughter, Larisa, graduated from school and was intending to go to college. However, as (at the time) 10th and 11th grade students were graduated at the same time, twice as many students were competing for the same number of places. However, her father insisted that she still apply, claiming in a letter that it would be like committing a crime to not go ahead. He knew that times were changing, and continuing life on just a secondary education was no longer sufficient, and made sure to reassure her mother that the academy she would be studying at (Arkhangelsk, rather than the capital), was just as good, if not better for her. His son eventually became a sailor. It is commonly said that the sailor passes onto his son the hereditary love of the sea, and this seems to be true here. 

Around the same time, whilst he was at home, he frequently helped his wife around the home, namely with fixing electrical wiring and fixing furniture. The family had been living in Polyarny since 1954, and would remain there until a year later in 1967. Emil, when he was not at home, often was moved frequently between locations as his service required. He studied for a year in 1967 in Leningrad at a Higher Officer Class, and was, in February 1968, promoted to Rear Admiral. At this time, he was Commander of the 35th Submarine Division. He was also elected as a deputy of the Kola District Council of Workers' Deputies, specifically in the Murmansk Region. 

Having served in the North for around 16 years, he was appointed to Kamchatka as Commander of the 15th Submarine Squadron in October 1970, and later as Commander of the 2nd Submarine Flotilla (in November 1973). 

Having such a string of successful promotions, he was made Vice Admiral by the Ministry of Defence (order No. 131), in a telegram signed Defence Marshal A. Grechko. He and his wife lived together, and their daughter lived with her family on the same street. Emil would not often be around, as he was working, but he was known to take his family on fishing trips on weekends, where they would fish, cook fish soup, and sang and danced together. 

Even on holidays, when he could not send cards, he wanted to send his family something. He was known to use his official stationary with printed text, and write letters of congratulations before attributing it with his complete signature. He was often approached by strangers looking for help, and he would listen to them all patiently and provide advice (at the behest of his daughter, who found the visits by neighbours frustrating, as she knew he needed rest as much as anybody else). He was, however, supported by his wife, who always provided assistance with the visitors' needs.

In 1978, relations with China had escalated at the border, and the Fleet Commander, Vladimir Petrovich Maslov, had fallen ill and was forced to go to hospital. Emil, in his role as first duty commander, took up the helm and worked night and day whilst the tensions were high. Because of this, the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Fleet Admiral Sergei Gorshkov, made note of Spiridonov's command and his ability to make the right decision in an extremely difficult situation. 

Just a year later, in 1979, he was appointed Commander of the Pacific Fleet, and promoted to the rank of Admiral. He received letters of congratulations from various people, including the Minister of Defence, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, The Head of the Political Directorate of the Navy and many others. He was moved into a dacha, which brought a long list of anxieties to his wife, who unfortunately became unwell and even suffered a stroke which temporarily paralysed her right side. This was in August, 1980. 

He was involved in several meetings at the Kremlin, meeting with even Leonid Brezhnev, to discuss the nature of his work and how they could best serve the interests of the state, considering that the Pacific Fleet was an exceptionally important tool for the protection of the Soviet Union's east, which was most at risk of American invasion by proximity. 

In the 1980s, during the War in Afghanistan, Emil showed great empathy for the families of those who had been killed in combat in Afghanistan, as the Soviets were suffering heavy losses. 

In Faces of the People, written by K. Grigoriev, he makes a comment about his impression of Admiral Spiridonov at that time:

"I had the most favourable impressions from meeting Admiral Spiridonov. By nature he was a real choleric [meaning fiery, highly energetic, passionate and outspoken] person, with an open straightforward soul. Emil Nikolaevich was infinitely honest and with his characteristic ardor he always said what he thought. For example, he did not hide his dislike for political agencies, considering them an imperfect superstructure in the existing naval structure. Occasionally, we met outside of an official setting, as a rule, with the participation of V. P. Lomakin..."

February 1981

In February 1981, Spiridonov's daughter, Larisa, was expecting a second child, and her parents travelled to visit her as she was living in Leningrad, which was where the annual operational mobilisation meeting was taking place. Both Emil and Valentina travelled and visited her. Larisa had originally attempted to dissuade her mother from visiting, under fears of her health, even attempting to have Emil intervene, but she went anyways. After all, her father was travelling to Moscow for the 26th Congress of the CPSU, so the couple could return at the same time. 

When they arrived, there was reportedly many jokes, laughs, and hugs shared between the newly reunited family. On the 5th, they sat down to dinner together and discussed naming Larisa's next child. They decided, as they were uncertain of the child's gender, that if it was a boy, he would be called Emil, and if it were a girl, she would be called Valentina, after their grandparents. Emil took great pleasure in the idea of a granddaughter, buying a pink fleece jacket in advance and often spoke with Valentina about how he could imagine her with huge bows in pigtails, running around the dacha. Emil would be born 4 months later, having never met his grandparents. 

On the 6th, Igor and his grandfather visited a church, where Igor lit a candle. Emil entered the room and blew it out, claiming it was too early, and, jokingly, that they would fight for life (saying that he wasn't ready to die yet). That same day, he was praised for high results at the meeting, which put him in a great mood. He began making plans for the future, and regained a lost desire for work, being described as constantly smiling.