Aleksander Begun

He was surrounded by his loving wife, Bella; his two daughters, Elena and Maria; and his granddaughter, Anya.

Born on July 31, 1934, in Yaroslavl, Russia, the only son of Zelda Koblenz and Abram Begun, Aleksander went on to spend the majority of his life living and working in Moscow. After graduating from the Moscow Technical Institute with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aleksander went on to work as a space engineer. He participated in the design of "lunokhod", the first Moonwalker robot — an engineering legacy that remains to this day on the moon.

In 2000, Aleksander arrived with his family in Seattle. He took great pride in pioneering the family’s immigration journey, establishing the foundation for a better life in the United States. Aleksander deeply appreciated the natural beauty of Seattle and Washington state, and he continued to travel within America and abroad.

He was also a passionate devotee of classical music, often found joyfully singing or conducting along to symphonic masterpieces.

In addition to his wife and daughters, he leaves behind his son, Andrey, and four cherished grandchildren: Anya, Samuel, Theodore, and Julia.

Friends and community members are welcome to visit the family home to pay their respects and offer comfort on May 21st, Thursday from 2-6pm at Blakeley Manor, 2401 NE Blakeley St, #208, Seattle.