Last year, Naina Iosifovna Yeltsina, the wife of the first president of the Russian Federation, celebrated her 85th birthday. This sincere and modest woman, who has learned to cope with the irrepressible character of her husband, has always remained in the shadow of her husband, providing him with a reliable rear.
Childhood and youth
On March 14, 1932, in the village of Titovka, Orenburg region, the first-born was born to the family of Joseph and Maria Girin. The girl was named Anastasia, although at home she was often called Naya, Naina. She grew up in an Old Believer family where drinking was prohibited, and strong words were considered a sin. The father saw in the eldest daughter a future teacher, she was very good at coping with her younger brothers and sister, there were six of them in a large family.
But the eighteen-year-old girl entered the construction faculty of the Ural Polytechnic Institute. Student life was in full swing: studies, competitions, skits … The guys organized a small friendly "collective farm", which consisted of six boys and as many girls. The desperate ringleader Boris was chosen as the "chairman"; Naya, as the most neat, was responsible for the cleanliness of the rooms. A tall, athletic young man immediately interested her, but the romantic feelings of the students broke out only in the second year. A modest, affable girl, who, moreover, also cooked perfectly, could not be ignored by Boris.
The wedding took place only a year after graduation, since during this period they had to communicate by letters - by distribution, he remained in the city, she returned to her homeland. The young family settled in Sverdlovsk. A year later, daughter Elena was born, and after another three - Tatiana. While the husband was rapidly building a career, the wife worked for two decades as a design engineer for treatment facilities. At the service, an official appeal was made, so at the age of 25 she changed the unusual "Anastasia Iosifovna" to the well-known version and became Naina not only in life, but also according to documents.
First lady
In 1985, Boris Yeltsin became the head of the capital city party committee and moved his family to Moscow. Naina Iosifovna decided to leave her job and devote herself to family affairs. And six years later, Boris Nikolaevich was elected the first Russian president. The wife of the head of state was next to him on trips abroad and at official receptions. She did a lot of charity work, which she never advertised, she was often seen in kindergartens, schools, hospitals. The International Fund awarded Yeltsin with the prize "For the Humanism of the Heart".
The president's wife rarely agreed to be interviewed. Quiet and inconspicuous, she was very hardy and patient. Naina Iosifovna was acutely aware of the intrigues and accusations of the worsening economic situation in the country, which fell on her husband. Yeltsin never discussed state affairs in the bosom of his family, a leader who made himself, he sometimes was not restrained and rude with her. The resignation of Boris Nikolaevich made Naina happy, it put an end to the anxiety and vanity that had undermined his health. Now the couple could spend time traveling and meeting with guests.
In 2007, Naina Iosifovna became a widow. She devoted all subsequent years to the memory of her husband. Three years ago, the Yeltsin Center appeared in Yekaterinburg, telling about the activities of the ex-head of state in a difficult time for the country, his personal belongings are collected here.
Last year, Naina Iosifovna's book "Personal Life" was published. She worked on her memoirs for five years and collected all the most intimate moments and details of her family life without the slightest political touch. On the anniversary of Naina Yeltsina in the Kremlin, where the closest people gathered, President Putin presented the birthday girl with the Order of the Holy Great Martyr Catherine.
