Vladimir Romanenkov
VLADIMIR ROMANENKOV first saw the light on December 21, 1924 (just in time for Christmas). He was brought into this world by Michael Goldinger and Tatiana Romanenkov who fled Russia during the revolution and settled in Berlin, Germany where he was born. He was followed by a baby brother, Michael, who was executed by the Germans for hobnobbing with the Russian army as they rolled into Berlin. Vladimir was spared. When Berlin was divided into East and West, they fled once again, this time to West Germany.
Music was his life. He began piano studies at 6 and gave his first recital at 8. He was pianist and soloist for a youth orchestra, won prizes in piano competitions and completed his music education with a masters in piano performance and composition from Staatliche Hochschule Fur Musik in Cologne, Germany in 1954. He was the winner of the 1954 German Chopin Competition in Hannover and participated in the 5th International Chopin Competition in Warsaw in 1955. Concerts in Germany, Scandinavia, Ireland among others followed.
In 1954 he married Rut Barbro Simonsdotter in Sweden. They have 2 children, Michael Goldinger and Maria Lishansky both of Stockholm, Sweden and a son Dieter Hilburger, before his marriage to Barbro. Michael and his ex-wife Eva have a daughter, Nina. Maria and her husband, Yoram, have two children, Mia and Joseph. He lived in Stockholm until his divorce in 1960 where he had a piano school.
After a well received concert in New York, he moved permanently to the United States in 1962. He resided in New York, Palo Alto, Menlo Park and ultimately San Francisco, where he met and married the love of his life, Judith Manlapaz from the Philippines, in 1978. They have no offsprings, Judy’s choice.
He taught piano and voice and worked as a pianist in various capacities. He gave concerts and once performed his own piano compositions and improvisations at a recital at the Herbst Theatre in San Francisco. He was a soloist and accompanist with the Massenkoff Russian Folk Festival in concerts all over the United States and had a guest appearance with the Jerry Lewis Telethon.
Vladimir was a unique personality who spoke his mind openly and frankly to a fault saving one the trouble of reading between the lines. His dry sense of humor and quick wit were his saving grace although one could miss it as he did it with a straight face. He was quick to forgive and forget at a drop of an apology. Said thank you for every little kind thing you do and apologized for every little wrong he did. Kind to the homeless, would never kill a bug and shared his wife’s values to treat fellow human beings with compassion, truth and respect regardless of race, color, religion, social, economic and physical status, etc. He touched many lives with his beautiful music, his magic to inspire music, his humor and unadulterated friendship and kindness. We miss him dearly and would remain in our hearts forever.
He loved sweets but was unfairly blessed with a very strong metabolism that he never gained weight and stayed slim and ramrod straight in his 6’2” frame, until he was felled by a stroke in 2016. Recovered then fell and fractured his hip and shoulder to never recover again and became bedbound. We are deeply grateful to everyone who had given him joy and pleasure with their visits, cards and good wishes during this time.
Due to natural causes, at age 92, in the afternoon of Sat., April 29, 2017 at Kaiser hospital, with Judy,his loving and devoted wife of 39 years by his side, he transitioned peacefully, seamlessly into eternal light.
Viewing will be held on Friday, May 12, 2017 from 4-7PM at Newall Chapel, 1383 El Camino Real, Colma and funeral services on Sat., May 13 from 10-12PM at the same chapel then burial and lunch reception.