Ruslan Gershfeld

Mr. Ruslan Gershfeld left this world peacefully on June 4th, 2017. He was born on August 28th, 1946 to David Gershfeld and Polina Yaroslavsky in Kishinev, Moldova. Ruslan shared his birthday with his twin sister Lyudmila and their father, David. The triple birthday was a cherished family event that was wildly celebrated throughout the years. Ruslan was a man of many talents. Following his father's foot steps - an internationally recognized, composer David Gershfeld - Ruslan moved to Moscow, Russia to pursue a career in classical and jazz music. He obtained his master's degree, organized a pop music band, and began traveling, and performing on stage. As a band director, he composed and arranged music while also playing the piano, the keyboard and the violin. Ruslan also arranged music for the Moscow Radio. Ruslan loved entertaining people and people gravitated towards his magnetic personality. He developed many friendships in the music industry that flourished throughout his lifetime. Through one of these special friendships, he met the love of his life, his wife, Tatyana. It was a whirlwind romance followed by fourty-two years of marriage, a son and a daughter. Ruslan was the light of every gathering. He entertained family and friends with his music renditions and improvisations by singing and playing on the piano the songs of some of his favorite musicians. He also vowed everyone with his humorous and charming storytelling. His huge smile, vivacious personality and loving heart won the affection of everyone around him. Ruslan was also a technology enthusiast and loved working with his hands. He spent a great deal of his life working on cars and ran an automative shop in Moscow. In 1992, he moved his family and began creating a new life in Sarasota, Florida. As his children married and later had their own children, Ruslan found great joy in spending time with his grandchildren. In 2000, Ruslan suffered his first major stroke. His life and the lives of his closest family had changed forever. Despite some limitations, he continued to live his life to the fullest. Ruslan was unstoppable. He dabbled in numerous hobbies and pursued endless ideas and activities. One could say that Ruslan truly lived his life to the fullest and he did it his way. He was a fighter and constantly amazed everyone with his strength and perseverance. Troubled at times, he was a deeply complicated, passionate, exuberant man that touched the lives of many. Ruslan was preceded in death by his beloved parents, David and Polina, his beloved oldest brother, Vilyam and his beloved mother-in-law Rosa. His one of a kind and unforgettable spirit will forever linger in the memories of his wife Tatyana, his son Greg with wife Magdalena and grandson Alexander, his son Simon with wife Olga and grandchildren Efim and Veronika, his daughter Ania with husband Andre and grandsons Anthony and Dillon, his older brother Alfred with wife Yelena, his twin sister, Lyudmila with husband Michael, his cousin Dmitriy with wife Alla, his cousin Val with wife Stella, and all of their children and grandchildren, his cousin Val with wife Svetlana, his cousin Anna, his nephews Vladimir, Alexander with wife Inna, Dmitriy with wife Vlada, Gennadiy with wife Victoria, his niece, Yelena with husband Mark, and all of their children.