Boris Mikhailovich and Marina Viktorovna Ledkovsky - Revision history

Vladyka Seraphim: /* References */

2026-02-23T01:08:06Z

References

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	[https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-12012-1154643585-/nicholas-ozerov-in-names-stories-in-newspapers-from-oldnewscom-delaware-maryland-virginia-west?s=OYYV7QH4NLGBGQZAEW7WLTBZCSC74QA&indId=&siteId=OYYV7QH4NLGBGQZAEW7WLTBZCSC74QA&language=EN&isExternal=1&rfr=super_search_email&email_template=1&hcl=1&tr_date=20260221 Ancestry.com reference for Boris Ledkovsky]		[https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-12012-1154643585-/nicholas-ozerov-in-names-stories-in-newspapers-from-oldnewscom-delaware-maryland-virginia-west?s=OYYV7QH4NLGBGQZAEW7WLTBZCSC74QA&indId=&siteId=OYYV7QH4NLGBGQZAEW7WLTBZCSC74QA&language=EN&isExternal=1&rfr=super_search_email&email_template=1&hcl=1&tr_date=20260221 Ancestry.com reference for Boris Ledkovsky]

	[https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-12012-1154643585-/nicholas-ozerov-in-names-stories-in-newspapers-from-oldnewscom-delaware-maryland-virginia-west?s=OYYV7QH4NLGBGQZAEW7WLTBZCSC74QA&indId=&siteId=OYYV7QH4NLGBGQZAEW7WLTBZCSC74QA&language=EN&isExternal=1&rfr=super_search_email&email_template=1&hcl=1&tr_date=~~20260221Ancestry~~.com reference for Nicholas Ozerov]		[https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-12012-1154643585-/nicholas-ozerov-in-names-stories-in-newspapers-from-oldnewscom-delaware-maryland-virginia-west?s=OYYV7QH4NLGBGQZAEW7WLTBZCSC74QA&indId=&siteId=OYYV7QH4NLGBGQZAEW7WLTBZCSC74QA&language=EN&isExternal=1&rfr=super_search_email&email_template=1&hcl=1&tr_date=20260221 Ancestry.com reference for Nicholas Ozerov]

	[https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/191293737/boris-mikhailovich-ledkovsky Findagrave reference for Boris M Ledkovsky]		[https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/191293737/boris-mikhailovich-ledkovsky Findagrave reference for Boris M Ledkovsky]

Vladyka Seraphim: /* References */

2026-02-23T01:03:39Z

References

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	[https://fordhamlaw.academia.edu/ELedkovsky/CurriculumVitae Biography of E A Ledkovsky]		[https://fordhamlaw.academia.edu/ELedkovsky/CurriculumVitae Biography of E A Ledkovsky]

			[https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-12012-1154643585-/nicholas-ozerov-in-names-stories-in-newspapers-from-oldnewscom-delaware-maryland-virginia-west?s=OYYV7QH4NLGBGQZAEW7WLTBZCSC74QA&indId=&siteId=OYYV7QH4NLGBGQZAEW7WLTBZCSC74QA&language=EN&isExternal=1&rfr=super_search_email&email_template=1&hcl=1&tr_date=20260221 Ancestry.com reference for Boris Ledkovsky]

			[https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-12012-1154643585-/nicholas-ozerov-in-names-stories-in-newspapers-from-oldnewscom-delaware-maryland-virginia-west?s=OYYV7QH4NLGBGQZAEW7WLTBZCSC74QA&indId=&siteId=OYYV7QH4NLGBGQZAEW7WLTBZCSC74QA&language=EN&isExternal=1&rfr=super_search_email&email_template=1&hcl=1&tr_date=20260221Ancestry.com reference for Nicholas Ozerov]

	[https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/191293737/boris-mikhailovich-ledkovsky Findagrave reference for Boris M Ledkovsky]		[https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/191293737/boris-mikhailovich-ledkovsky Findagrave reference for Boris M Ledkovsky]

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Teaching at Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, 19531-1968 */

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Teaching at Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, 19531-1968

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	Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary here, it was announced by Seminary officials. The		Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary here, it was announced by Seminary officials. The
	course of lectures to train directors and readers will be given in the evenings, four times a week,		course of lectures to train directors and readers will be given in the evenings, four times a week,
	in two - hour periods. The director of courses is Boris Ledkovsky. 'The lectures are designed to		in two-hour periods. The director of courses is Boris Ledkovsky. 'The lectures are designed to
	serve a most pressing need of our Church', he said. 'Subjects will include Sacred Music,		serve a most pressing need of our Church', he said. 'Subjects will include Sacred Music,
	Liturgical Practice and Church Slavonic'. Secretary of the training program is [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Nicholas_N_and_Sophie_S_Ozerov Mr. Nicholas Ozerov],		Liturgical Practice and Church Slavonic'. Secretary of the training program is [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Nicholas_N_and_Sophie_S_Ozerov Mr. Nicholas Ozerov],

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Teaching at Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, 19531-1968 */

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Teaching at Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, 19531-1968

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 Professor Ledkovsky became one of the most influential Orthodox Church musicians of the twentieth century, playing a key role in changing the style of singing in North American Orthodox churches. In his compositions, Ledkovsky attempted to convey what he so often referred to as “tserkovnost” (i.e., churchly), drawing inspiration from the old Russian chants. He emphasized the importance of the text—and that the music should never predominate over it—and composed music in service of the sacred words sung in liturgical settings. One of his students, David Drillock—who would go on serve for many years himself as the Seminary's Professor of Liturgical Music—recalled, “I became very close to Professor Ledkovsky and can remember so vividly how, when I would excitedly show him some piece of music that I had heard and was asking him why we shouldn’t sing it, he would look at me, shake his head, and simply reply, ‘Nu, David, eto ne tserkovno’ (But, David, this is not churchly).”
-Under Professor Ledkovsky's direction, the St. Vladimir's Seminary Male Choir achieved such a high level that the choir gave several public concerts in the late 1950s and early 1960s. In 1961 the first recording by the Seminary choir was produced.  Boris Ledkovsky directed and, for the most part, the selections were settings of chant done by Ledkovsky along with a few of his own compositions.  [https://www.svots.edu/content/david-drillock Professor David Drillock] described the transformation that the work of Mr. Ledkovsky and others helped set in motion during those years throughout the Church in North America :
+Under Professor Ledkovsky's direction, the St. Vladimir's Seminary Male Choir achieved such a high level that the choir gave several public concerts in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
    Already as a result of the annual Lenten visits to parishes on the east coast and the annual
    concerts which we gave in New York City, and especially by the lectures given by Fr. Alexander

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Repose, 1975 */

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Repose, 1975

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	Marina was a pioneering scholar of Russian women’s studies.		Marina was a pioneering scholar of Russian women’s studies.

	In 1979, she had been appointed full professor jointly at [Barnard College] and [Columbia University], and she remained in this responsibility until her retirement in 1996.		In 1979, she had been appointed full professor jointly at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnard_College Barnard College], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_(state) New York], and [https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_University Columbia University], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_(state) New York], and she remained in this responsibility until her retirement in 1996.

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Teaching at Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, 19531-1968 */

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Teaching at Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, 19531-1968

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	It is useful to keep in mind that as he taught singing to the seminarians, Boris Mikhailovich was preparing future pastors (many of whom became priests of parishes in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada Canada]). His teaching, and his publications as well, were an important influence in [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archdiocese_of_Canada Canadian parishes] of more than one diocese, most particularly those using the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language English language]. His publication of a setting for Great [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Vespers] in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octoechos eight tones] for Sundays in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kievan_chant Kievan Chant] was particularly influential in the English-speaking communities in Canada (and, of course, in the USA).		It is useful to keep in mind that as he taught singing to the seminarians, Boris Mikhailovich was preparing future pastors (many of whom became priests of parishes in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada Canada]). His teaching, and his publications as well, were an important influence in [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archdiocese_of_Canada Canadian parishes] of more than one diocese, most particularly those using the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language English language]. His publication of a setting for Great [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Vespers] in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octoechos eight tones] for Sundays in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kievan_chant Kievan Chant] was particularly influential in the English-speaking communities in Canada (and, of course, in the USA).


			[[File:SVSFacutly 1958 1.png]] '''Saint Vladimir's Faculty, 1958'''

			Boris Mikhailovich, upper left corner


	Professor Ledkovsky became one of the most influential Orthodox Church musicians of the twentieth century, playing a key role in changing the style of singing in North American Orthodox churches. In his compositions, Ledkovsky attempted to convey what he so often referred to as “tserkovnost” (i.e., churchly), drawing inspiration from the old Russian chants. He emphasized the importance of the text—and that the music should never predominate over it—and composed music in service of the sacred words sung in liturgical settings. One of his students, David Drillock—who would go on serve for many years himself as the Seminary's Professor of Liturgical Music—recalled, “I became very close to Professor Ledkovsky and can remember so vividly how, when I would excitedly show him some piece of music that I had heard and was asking him why we shouldn’t sing it, he would look at me, shake his head, and simply reply, ‘Nu, David, eto ne tserkovno’ (But, David, this is not churchly).”		Professor Ledkovsky became one of the most influential Orthodox Church musicians of the twentieth century, playing a key role in changing the style of singing in North American Orthodox churches. In his compositions, Ledkovsky attempted to convey what he so often referred to as “tserkovnost” (i.e., churchly), drawing inspiration from the old Russian chants. He emphasized the importance of the text—and that the music should never predominate over it—and composed music in service of the sacred words sung in liturgical settings. One of his students, David Drillock—who would go on serve for many years himself as the Seminary's Professor of Liturgical Music—recalled, “I became very close to Professor Ledkovsky and can remember so vividly how, when I would excitedly show him some piece of music that I had heard and was asking him why we shouldn’t sing it, he would look at me, shake his head, and simply reply, ‘Nu, David, eto ne tserkovno’ (But, David, this is not churchly).”

	Under Professor Ledkovsky's direction, the St. Vladimir's Seminary Male Choir achieved such a high level that the choir gave several public concerts in the late 1950s and early 1960s. In 1961 the first recording by the Seminary choir was produced. Boris Ledkovsky directed and, for the most part, the selections were settings of chant done by Ledkovsky along with a few of his own compositions. Drillock described the transformation that the work of Ledkovsky and others helped set in motion during those years throughout the Church in North America:		Under Professor Ledkovsky's direction, the St. Vladimir's Seminary Male Choir achieved such a high level that the choir gave several public concerts in the late 1950s and early 1960s. In 1961 the first recording by the Seminary choir was produced. Boris Ledkovsky directed and, for the most part, the selections were settings of chant done by Ledkovsky along with a few of his own compositions. [https://www.svots.edu/content/david-drillock Professor David Drillock] described the transformation that the work of Mr. Ledkovsky and others helped set in motion during those years throughout the Church in North America :
	Already as a result of the annual Lenten visits to parishes on the east coast and the annual concerts which we gave in New York City, and especially by the lectures given by Fr. Alexander [Schmemann] throughout the entire country in churches and college campuses, an awareness that liturgical worship and church singing were not only vestiges of an ~~“ancient~~, ~~colorful rite”~~ but something that was relevant and meaningful to contemporary life was beginning to take hold.		Already as a result of the annual Lenten visits to parishes on the east coast and the annual
			concerts which we gave in New York City, and especially by the lectures given by Fr. Alexander
			[Schmemann] throughout the entire country in churches and college campuses, an awareness
			that liturgical worship and church singing were not only vestiges of an ‘ancient, colourful rite’, but
			something that was relevant and meaningful to contemporary life was beginning to take hold.


			[[File:Ledkovsky and svs choir1964 2.jpg]] '''Mr. Ledkovsky and the male choir, 1964'''


	Then, in 1964 a recording of the Divine Liturgy in English was made, with Professor Ledkovsky directing. The choir was recognised, as one reviewer for The New York Times put it, as “almost a professional chorus” ; and amongst church people, it was known not only for its “prayerful” renditions of church music, but also as the choir most responsible in America for arousing interest in the ancient liturgical chants of the Russian Orthodox Church.		Then, in 1964 a recording of the Divine Liturgy in English was made, with Professor Ledkovsky directing. The choir was recognised, as one reviewer for The New York Times put it, as “almost a professional chorus” ; and amongst church people, it was known not only for its “prayerful” renditions of church music, but also as the choir most responsible in America for arousing interest in the ancient liturgical chants of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Vladyka Seraphim: /* References */

2025-08-12T13:14:06Z

References

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	[http://www.rocm.org/e_aboutchoir.htm ROCOR Choir of the Synodal Cathedral of “The Sign of the Theotokos”]		[http://www.rocm.org/e_aboutchoir.htm ROCOR Choir of the Synodal Cathedral of “The Sign of the Theotokos”]

			[https://www.svots.edu/headlines/remembering-eminent-church-musician-boris-ledkovsky-50-years-after-his-repose Remembering Eminent Church Musician Boris Ledkovsky 50 Years after His Repose] (6 August, 2025)

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Teaching at Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, 19531-1968 */

2025-08-12T13:07:52Z

Teaching at Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, 19531-1968

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	Then, in 1964 a recording of the Divine Liturgy in English was made, with Professor Ledkovsky directing. The choir was recognised, as one reviewer for The New York Times put it, as “almost a professional chorus” ; and amongst church people, it was known not only for its “prayerful” renditions of church music, but also as the choir most responsible in America for arousing interest in the ancient liturgical chants of the Russian Orthodox Church.		Then, in 1964 a recording of the Divine Liturgy in English was made, with Professor Ledkovsky directing. The choir was recognised, as one reviewer for The New York Times put it, as “almost a professional chorus” ; and amongst church people, it was known not only for its “prayerful” renditions of church music, but also as the choir most responsible in America for arousing interest in the ancient liturgical chants of the Russian Orthodox Church.

	(Although that 1964 album is no longer in publication, the recording has been posted ~~online~~. Other recorded compositions and arrangements of Ledkovsky's may be downloaded via Musica Russica.)
			[[File:SVSRecording1964 1.jpg]] '''The record-sleeve'''


			(Although that 1964 album is no longer in publication, the recording has been posted [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdLHVxnl1Ug&bbeml=tp-Rh3aDbxbrk20OfVAv97lAA.jbsv9TKYcukqrg-bV10MInQ.rvubqqvg0rkWm3JhCu2mYXw.leRemmSl6PUGUWAv-i_c0pg on the internet]. Other recorded compositions and arrangements by Professor Ledkovsky may be downloaded via “[https://www.musicarussica.com/composers/ledkovsky-boris?bbeml=tp-Rh3aDbxbrk20OfVAv97lAA.jbsv9TKYcukqrg-bV10MInQ.rvubqqvg0rkWm3JhCu2mYXw.lodagvUZQb0-wyKEn_Z_yXA Musica Russica]”.)

	Towards the end of his life, Professor Ledkovsky’s work at St. Vladimir’s Seminary was limited to one rehearsal a week, though he also continued to compose music for the choir, which Professor Drillock would adapt to English. Boris Mikhailovich was commissioned by the Seminary to write a setting for [https://www.abebooks.com/9780913836262/Great-Vespers-Ledkovsky-Boris-0913836265/plp?bbeml=tp-Rh3aDbxbrk20OfVAv97lAA.jbsv9TKYcukqrg-bV10MInQ.rvubqqvg0rkWm3JhCu2mYXw.luuOWh2soJ0SSMI4L5H5f8A Great Vespers], which in turn was adapted for English and published by Saint Vladimir’s Seminary in 1976. However, Professor Ledkovsky did not live to see the published work, since he reposed from suffering with lung cancer.		Towards the end of his life, Professor Ledkovsky’s work at St. Vladimir’s Seminary was limited to one rehearsal a week, though he also continued to compose music for the choir, which Professor Drillock would adapt to English. Boris Mikhailovich was commissioned by the Seminary to write a setting for [https://www.abebooks.com/9780913836262/Great-Vespers-Ledkovsky-Boris-0913836265/plp?bbeml=tp-Rh3aDbxbrk20OfVAv97lAA.jbsv9TKYcukqrg-bV10MInQ.rvubqqvg0rkWm3JhCu2mYXw.luuOWh2soJ0SSMI4L5H5f8A Great Vespers], which in turn was adapted for English and published by Saint Vladimir’s Seminary in 1976. However, Professor Ledkovsky did not live to see the published work, since he reposed from suffering with lung cancer.

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Director of the Choir of the Synodal Cathedral of “The Sign of the Theotokos”, New York, 1952 */

2025-08-12T12:59:11Z

Director of the Choir of the Synodal Cathedral of “The Sign of the Theotokos”, New York, 1952

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	The [http://www.rocm.org/e_aboutchoir.htmROCOR Synodal Choir] released a recording in 1965. Bishop Philip ([https://ru-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/%D0%93%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B4%D0%BD%D0%B5%D1%80,_%D0%98%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD_%D0%90%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%81%D0%B5%D0%B5%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87?_x_tr_sl=ru&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc I A Gardner]) wrote that : “This disc will remind the old [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Muscovite Muscovites] of the [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Muscovite Moscow] choirs of the flourishing heights of the Moscow Church music tradition just before [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I World War I], and the characteristic style of the Moscow repertoire” (see “Old Moskvich : a recording by the New York Choir of the Russian Synodal Church” (New York : Russian Thought, 1965) no. 2315, 1 June). The repertoire included also sacred music by emigrant composers ([https://zarubezhje-narod-ru.translate.goog/gi/g_004.htm?_x_tr_sch=http&_x_tr_sl=ru&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc I A Gardner], [https://www.immigrant-voices.aiisf.org/stories-by-author/the-contrasting-cases-of-two-russian-choir-directors/ I A Kolchin], [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Philaret_(Voznesensky) Metropolitan Filaret (Voznesensky)], [https://ru-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/%D0%9D%D0%B0%D0%B1%D0%BE%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B2,_%D0%9D%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B9_%D0%94%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B5%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87?_x_tr_sl=ru&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc N D Nabokov], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Swan A J Swan], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Ledkovsky B M Ledkovsky)].		The [http://www.rocm.org/e_aboutchoir.htmROCOR Synodal Choir] released a recording in 1965. Bishop Philip ([https://ru-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/%D0%93%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B4%D0%BD%D0%B5%D1%80,_%D0%98%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD_%D0%90%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%81%D0%B5%D0%B5%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87?_x_tr_sl=ru&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc I A Gardner]) wrote that : “This disc will remind the old [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Muscovite Muscovites] of the [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Muscovite Moscow] choirs of the flourishing heights of the Moscow Church music tradition just before [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I World War I], and the characteristic style of the Moscow repertoire” (see “Old Moskvich : a recording by the New York Choir of the Russian Synodal Church” (New York : Russian Thought, 1965) no. 2315, 1 June). The repertoire included also sacred music by emigrant composers ([https://zarubezhje-narod-ru.translate.goog/gi/g_004.htm?_x_tr_sch=http&_x_tr_sl=ru&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc I A Gardner], [https://www.immigrant-voices.aiisf.org/stories-by-author/the-contrasting-cases-of-two-russian-choir-directors/ I A Kolchin], [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Philaret_(Voznesensky) Metropolitan Filaret (Voznesensky)], [https://ru-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/%D0%9D%D0%B0%D0%B1%D0%BE%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B2,_%D0%9D%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B9_%D0%94%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B5%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87?_x_tr_sl=ru&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc N D Nabokov], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Swan A J Swan], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Ledkovsky B M Ledkovsky)].


	==Teaching at Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, 19531-1968==		==Teaching at Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, 19531-1968==

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Repose, 1975 */

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Repose, 1975

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	[[File:Ledkovsky-grave-marker 2.jpg]] '''Boris M Ledkovsky grave-marker'''		[[File:Ledkovsky-grave-marker 2.jpg]] '''Boris M Ledkovsky grave-marker'''


			'''Marina Victorovna Ledkovskaya'''

	Boris Mikhailovich was survived by his wife Marina Victorovna.		Boris Mikhailovich was survived by his wife Marina Victorovna.

			Marina was a pioneering scholar of Russian women’s studies.

			In 1979, she had been appointed full professor jointly at [Barnard College] and [Columbia University], and she remained in this responsibility until her retirement in 1996.