The stages of the biography of the founder of the national pathopsychology, Professor B.V. Zeigarnik, are considered in close interaction of objective-scientific and personal-life aspects against the cultural-historical background of the XX century. It is shown that until the 1930s, Russian psychology was an important and integral part of European psychology, so that B.V. Zeigarnik's move from Berlin to Moscow was a significant link in such cooperation, in particular, due to the introduction of the methodology of the Kurt Levin School into the practice of domestic pathopsychological research. Long-term apprenticeship and cooperation with B.V. Zeigarnik allowed the author of the published article, in addition to the well-known biographical data, to add new touches to the portrait of an outstanding scientist and person.