Rashil Lobachevskaya

At the age of 16, Rashil and her parents were evacuated to Uzbekistan, just prior to the Nazi invasion of Ukraine. During her four years of evacuation, she was required to work tirelessly overnight as a newspaper editor, while enduring near complete deprivation. After the war, she returned home and went on to build a successful career as an HVAC engineer, an extraordinary achievement for a woman of her time. In 1976, she immigrated to the United States with her elderly mother and two sons. With characteristic determination, she learned English quickly and secured a job as a designer in Providence, RI. Her talent and work ethic propelled her forward, and she rose to become an engineer in Boston, eventually leading an HVAC department in New York City. After retiring, Rashil moved to Cleveland in 1999 to be closer to her family, a role she cherished above all else.

Rashil loved to travel and had a deep appreciation for classical music, literature, and long walks in the Metroparks. She claimed to have introduced the city of Cleveland to the game of Rummikub, and continued to play it with fierce joy, often beating her children and grandchildren well into her 99th year. She had a rare gift for friendship and maintained close bonds with dear friends from many chapters of her life. But above all, she adored her family.

Rashil's legacy is one of resilience, love and unwavering devotion. Her spirit lives on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her. May her memory be a blessing.

She is survived by her sons, Vladimir Vekstein (Kathy Marsh) and Yuri Lobachevsky (Lena); her grandchildren, Andrew Vekstein (Brittany) and Carolyn Vekstein (Nikhil Misra); and her two beloved great-grandchildren, Emma Rachel and Ann Claire.

A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held at Congregation Mishkan Or, 26000 Shaker Boulevard, Beachwood, OH, on Sunday, June 29th, at 2PM. Donations are suggested in her memory to the Cleveland Metroparks.