Oswalds’ Integration into the Local Russian-Speaking Community
Through Peter Gregory the Oswalds became acquainted with a growing circle of Russian-speaking residents of the Dallas–Fort Worth area, a group tied together by common origin, language, and religion, primarily from Eastern European countries. Marina gave conversational Russian lessons to Paul Gregory two days a week during August and early September for $35, usually at the Mercedes Street apartment with Oswald present, and Paul occasionally took the Oswalds shopping and had politically oriented discussions with Oswald. Around August 25, Peter Gregory hosted a dinner for the Oswalds and several community members, including George Bouhe, a Dallas accountant and community leader interested in Marina because she had lived in Leningrad, his birthplace, and Anna Meller, a Russian-born wife of a Dallas department store employee. Near the end of August the Oswalds met consulting geologist Declan Ford and his Russian-born wife at the Mellers’ home, and were introduced to Elena Hall, a Tehran-born dental laboratory worker of Russian parentage, through Bouhe who brought Marina to her for dental aid. In early September they met Alexander Kleinlerer, then courting Mrs. Hall, and were introduced to Mrs. Max Clark by Bouhe and Meller. Around the same time, Russian-born petroleum engineer George De Mohrenschildt visited them after hearing about them from within the group, and they later met his wife Jeanne, daughter Alexandra, and son-in-law Gary Taylor. The community was interested both in helping the Oswalds and in hearing fresh news from Russia; some members were initially apprehensive about the apparent ease of their departure from the Soviet Union, but Bouhe, Meller, and Elena Hall were the primary contributors of money, groceries, clothing, and furniture, with others providing transportation and groceries. The Oswalds visited some of these acquaintances in Dallas, and they in turn visited the Oswalds.
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