Obituary for Gregory Zelenin
Gregory Zelenin, 97, passed away Friday, March 10 in Bloomington, Indiana. Gregory was born in a small Ukrainian town and grew up in Leningrad (now St Petersburg) in Soviet Russia. A Red Army paratrooper during World War II, he developed an affection for America at an early age as he jumped from U.S. made aircraft and listened to Glenn Miller’s music, a lifelong favorite of his.
After the war he was the first in his family to obtain higher education. He worked as a journalist in Leningrad. In the early 90’s he moved to the U.S.
Here he learned to drive and acquired his first car, an old Pontiac, at the age of 67. He continued to write, penning articles for Russian language publications in New York City and Los Angeles. He also kept his passion for running and won trophies in his age group. He was a fixture in his neighborhood, still jogging at the age of 90 and fielding questions from curious passersby.
His health deteriorated after Natalya, the love of his life, broke her hip. She had surgery and recovered, but Gregory began to experience his own health issues and gradually lost his memory. Nonetheless, he still remembered her name to the end.
He is survived by his wife Natalya; son Yuri (Joan) of Bloomington, IN; grandson Matthew of Austin, TX.
A graveside service will be held at 9:30 A.M. on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at Clear Creek Cemetery in Bloomington, Indiana.
After the war he was the first in his family to obtain higher education. He worked as a journalist in Leningrad. In the early 90’s he moved to the U.S.
Here he learned to drive and acquired his first car, an old Pontiac, at the age of 67. He continued to write, penning articles for Russian language publications in New York City and Los Angeles. He also kept his passion for running and won trophies in his age group. He was a fixture in his neighborhood, still jogging at the age of 90 and fielding questions from curious passersby.
His health deteriorated after Natalya, the love of his life, broke her hip. She had surgery and recovered, but Gregory began to experience his own health issues and gradually lost his memory. Nonetheless, he still remembered her name to the end.
He is survived by his wife Natalya; son Yuri (Joan) of Bloomington, IN; grandson Matthew of Austin, TX.
A graveside service will be held at 9:30 A.M. on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at Clear Creek Cemetery in Bloomington, Indiana.