† Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Sobor, Vancouver

The Service

Words by Fr Michael

Words by grandson Sasha Eulogy

Words by Nikolay’s student Fred Samorodin

Words by Marina Osmolovskaya

Photos

Words by grandson Sasha Eulogy

Thank you guys so much for coming. We are gathered here NOT to mourn, but to celebrate the beautiful life of my Grandfather, Nikolai Kolesnikov.

I had the pleasure of knowing him for 31 years. Fortunately, nobody needed that long to understand what kind of a person he was. Nikolai was sweet, thoughtful, kind, caring, a wonderful husband, a nurturing father, a whimsical storyteller, loved and respected by all his friends and students, and most of all, always had a surprising amount of hair.

When thinking about Grandpa, the word “warrior” may seem like a strange adjective, but I’m not sure how else I can describe somebody who survived numerous bouts with cancer, heart attacks, surgeries, even cheating death, and went through these events with sincere positivity and optimism. Even when he had every reason to be defeated, he simply shrugs in the face of adversity and perseveres. So, the next time you stub your toe and you are convinced the world is ending, please remember, things could be worse.

In his 92 years, Nikolai was married only once. He, and his wife, Raissa Kolesnikov, were married for 71 years. 71 years! In a world where a 20-year relationship is considered to be a resounding success, I would say they did reasonably well.

Of course, as with any relationship, they had many amazing times together, but occasionally, Nikolai would need to do some damage control. When they had their disagreements, it was usually over something relatively small. Grandma would occasionally become minorly sarcastic with him (which is one of the most adorable things you will ever see), but Grandpa knew EXACTLY what to do. He would come over to her, and start talking to her in funny voices. He would tickle her. He would sing to her. Eventually, she would crack a smile, begin laughing, and it was as if nothing had ever happened in the first place.

This is who he was.

He always had this child-like wonder, where his creativity knew no bounds. 25 years ago, I would frequently stay with my Grandparents. Every night, Grandpa would tuck me in, and he would tell me a story. Not just any story, but something he would make up on the spot. A story with elaborate plotlines, kingdoms, princes and princesses. Every night finished with a “To Be Continued…”, and although I hated waiting, I knew that the following night, he would continue the story. And he did. Every night, he would transport me to a magical place.

However, to balance the brilliance he had at night, his morning routine was something left to be desired. He would wake me up by sneaking into my room, tickling my feet, and chanting “Ded Moroz, Ded Moroz, Ded Moroz!” which translates to “Grandfather Frost, Grandfather Frost, Grandfather Frost!” It makes as little sense now as it did then. There is literally NO ADDITIONAL CONTEXT I can provide you with, but it put a smile on my face. He would even take time out of his day give me vocal lessons, despite knowing, deep down, that my vibrato would never develop. He was right.

Grandpa started his musical “career” at the age of 10, when he was enrolled into a music school. He was supposed to take Violin classes, but as soon as his mom dropped him off and left, he would also leave. When their exams started, it was apparent that he never attended any of his classes. However, it became apparent that he had a beautiful baritone. Eventually, he graduated from the prestigious Moscow State Institute of Theatrical Arts with a Master’s degree in voice and vocal instruction. This is where he developed his love for singing, theater, and the arts. After moving to Vancouver in 1982, he quickly established himself as one of the city’s most distinguished vocal coaches.

Due to his remarkable understanding of the human voice, he had a stunning ability to develop all types of voices, even the ones that had little business singing in the first place. The relationships he formed with his students were especially amazing considering he spoke very little English. However, his passion for singing and teaching was so contagious, that English wasn’t even necessary. He was able to create these relationships with his positive body language, and with his love.

Grandpa wasn’t just a singer, he was a bit of a handyman, a cook, a photographer, and an actor. A husband, a father, a grandfather, a mentor, and an inspiration. Silly, serious, loving, generous and wonderful human being.

And to quote a friend of mine after meeting my Grandpa for the first time: “See you soon, cool dude.”