East 250th Street Resident and Musician George Jurjev Dies

East 250th Street resident, George Jurjev, died on March 10, 2014. He and his group, the Melody Orchestra, performed at events for over 30 years.

George, Sophie and daughter Joan arrived in Cleveland as displaced persons in the early 1950s. He was born in northeasternCroatia, in a section with a substantial German-heritage population. He shared German and Croatian bloodlines. He worked as an elementary school teacher. 

Fearing that the Russians would invade where George lived and that they would single out person of German heritage for harsh treatment, he joined a group escorting children northward toAustria.  InVienna, he survived by his wits and willingness to work in any available job and met his future wife, Sophie, there. A romance developed and they were married. Over the next few months, as the Russians progressed westward, the German army continued to fall back, Sophie and George made several moves.  At one stop, George learned the shoemaking trade. By the time the war ended, George and Sophie and their new daughter, Joan, were settled in a refugee camp.

Unable to return toCroatia, the Jurjevs were slated for resettlement toAustralia.

The day prior to their departure, Joan developed a fever. The officials said the family could not leave until she recovered. The next ship was headed for theUnited States. George discussed this option with other refugees with whom he had played in a make-up orchestra, and all agreed to go to theUS.

When the family arrived in New York they were offered options as to where in the country they could locate. George again consulted with his musician shipmate friends and they agreed upon Cleveland.

Once in Cleveland, George held a series of jobs of ever increasing responsibility.

Beginning as a machine operator in an auto parts factory, he moved to a factory position at the General Electric Nela Park facility in East Cleveland. He rose rapidly, and benefiting from a series of fortuitous happenings, was promoted to administrative head of the GE unit that made light bulbs for automotive use. He retired from that position in the 1990s.

George was musically talented. Throughout his travels in Austriaand the time in refugee camps, he connected with other musicians and formed bands.  In America he found his greatest success in playing for German social groups. He led the Melody Orchestra for more than 30 years, retiring in 1993.

George’s primary instrument was the saxophone, however, he could also play other instruments. His group recorded only 4 selections on a single Hofbrau House LP phonograph record.

Fellow musician, Fred Ziwich, commented that George was “a typical musician of the time….played a lot in his time, and lasted a long time.” 

George also hosted German music radio programs. In 1998, he began at a small AM station located in Chardon-WATJ. From there he moved to a LorainCountystation-WDLW. With declining sponsorships and tiring of the long drives to the LorainCountylocation, he affiliated with a station located closer to his Euclidhome-WELW. He also broadcast on the internet format 247polkaheaven.com. After ending broadcasting with 247 he continued broadcasting on WELW. His program aired on Sunday afternoons.