Talivalois Jansons was born September 12, 1915, in Riga, Latvia, the son of Woldemar and Emily (Silin) Jansons. He was a sailor, who worked primarily as a "bosun" or boatswain; a position in the merchant marine charged with maintaining the hull of the ship. Ships records describe him as "5'10" or 5'11" and weighing 185 to 190 pounds."
From at least 1939 to 1952 he was employed on ships that traveled the Atlantic, making port at such exotic locales as Murmansk, Russia; Puerto Barrios, Guatemala; Bridgetown, Barbados; Hamburg and Bremerhaven in Germany; Havana, Cuba,; Puerto Cortes, Honduras; Kingston, Jamaica; Tromso, Norway; Pointe A Pierre, Trinidad; Halifax, Nova Scotia, and a rare foray to Los Angeles, California.
Some of the ships that he served on in his career were the Montebello Hills, Randa, John Murray Forbes, Ericus, Long Eye, the Barnard Victory, and the Dalton Victory.
Talivalois Jansons died February 15, 1993, and was buried on Hart Island.
Sources: U.S. Social Security Death Index; U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007; New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957; New York, Passenger and Crew Lists 1917-1974; U.S. Atlantic Ports Passenger Lists, 1820-1873 and 1893-1959; New York State, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1917-1974.