Anna Vasilevna Gorbatsevich, professor emerita of Russian, passed away at her home on Sept. 6 at the age of 88. She was a resident of Syracuse for more than 60 years.
Gorbatsevich was born near Warsaw, Poland, where she studied to become an interpreter. She spoke many languages, including English, Russian, Polish, French and German. After immigrating to America, Gorbatsevich began working at the AFIT (Air Force Institute of Technology) Language Program at Syracuse University in 1951 and then joined the East European Language Program, which later became the SU Slavic Department, in September 1959.
At SU, she taught Russian literature, language and other Slavic language courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels. She was also faculty advisor for the Syracuse University Russian Choir and Russian Club and was a member of Dobro Slovo, the Russian National Honor Society. She retired from SU in 1990.
Gorbatsevich was a member of St. Mary’s Russian Orthodox Church.
“Anna Vasilevena was well-read and well-traveled. She could quote passages from novels and poems verbatim and had the talent to converse on any topic,” says Tatiana Hursky, adjunct professor at Edison State College and a former student of Gorbatsevich. “She will be remembered as an invaluable professor, loving daughter, active community member and loyal friend. She will be deeply missed by her former students, her many friends and her family in Poland.”
Gorbatsevich was predeceased by her parents, Antonina Stanislavna and Basil Mihalchonok. She was buried at the Jordanville Monastery in Jordanville, N.Y.
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