Anna Golovin died at home in Evanston on November 22, 2021 after a brief fatal illness, complicated by asthma and diabetes. She follows her husband Sasha Golovin in death and is survived by her son Peter Golovin of Evanston and several relatives in Russia—a niece Olga, an aunt Nadezhda, and her sister-in-law Lena.

 

Anna was born Anna Yazvikova, on Wednesday March 30, 1960. Her parents were Mira Petrovna Vinogradova (deceased January 1983) and Vadim Vladimirovich Yazvikov (deceased October 12 1992). Anyuta (her nickname) lived with her family in the center of Moscow, very close to the Kremlin. Her neighborhood, Gargarensky Lane, was in a historic district and she lived in this communal apartment during the difficult time of reconstruction after World War II.

 

Her father graduated from the Second Pirogov Medical Center, and later became a doctor for the Soviet Rowing Olympic Team. Her mother graduated from the Mendeleev Chemical Technology Institute. They had been married in Prague, Czechoslovakia and returned to Moscow after graduating from Prague University.

 

They were helped by grandmothers Olga Ivanovna Yazvikova and second grandmother Evdokeya Ivanovna. Vadim and Mira separated when Anya was 9 years old, and she and her mother moved to a separate studio apartment on Matveevskaya Street. Anya graduated from school with good English and great drawing skills. (She used to skip school to go to Red Square or to the Tetrakov Art Gallery.)

 

She yearned to study at the Stroganov Art School, but didn't pass the entrance exam, so began work in the children's library close to her home. There she met and married Yuri Briliantov, who studied at the university. They had one son, Petya (Peter) who lost his grandmother Mira when he was only one and a half. Olga Ivanovna moved in with her granddaughter and great-grandson with Evdokeya Ivanovna coming on Sundays to help. When Petya was 7 years old, Anya began work at the library of the Karpov Research Institute of Physics and Chemistry. There she met and married Alexander Golovin. Alexander (Sasha), adopted Petya. 

 

After the Soviet Union dissolved in 1992, Sasha received an offer to work at the Israeli Institute of Technology and the whole family moved to Israel. Sasha came from a Jewish family and was very interested in going.

 

In 1996, Sasha received an offer from Northwestern University, and they moved to Evanston but soon went back to Israel for two more years, returning to Evanston in 2000 when Sasha became a professor. In 2008, Sasha died from esophageal cancer and was buried in Skokie Memorial Park Cemetery. Anna and Peter lived at Ridge-Davis Co-op apartment for the next thirteen years. She was well-loved by all for her friendly help as token salesperson and her talent for decorating the 4th floor.

 

 Those wishing to send a memorial may contribute in Anna Golovin’s name to a charity of their choice.

 

Visitation 6:00pm to 8:00pm Monday, November 29, 2021 at the Thompson Funeral Home, 1917 Asbury Avenue, Evanston. Interment at Memorial Park Cemetery, 9900 North Gross Point Road, Skokie in the Birch Section, Lot 275, Grave 1. Please meet directly at the cemetery main gate Tuesday November 30, 2021 at 9:30am for graveside service at 10:00am. Arrangements entrusted to Evanston Funeral & Cremation, Roland F. Weis director. Info 847 866-8843, condolence and guestbook at evanstonfuneral.com

Please note that the above schedule reflects changes from the original posting