Message from Nina Valyaeva, Leonid Shulman’s wife with translation:
Нашим дорогим друзьям, приславшим свои соболезнования, слова прощания, цветы, подарки, в связи с уходом моего дорогого мужа Леонида Абрамовича Шульмана.
Мои дорогие!
Время остановилось для меня, когда Леонид Абрамович ушёл от нас навсегда.
Это так страшно остаться одной в щемящей тишине опустевшей квартиры, не слышать его голоса: «Посмотри вот это!», «Прочти вот это!», «Не пропусти!!», «Давай обязательно послушаем этот концерт!» и ... т. д...
Мне выпало счастье почти половину жизни быть рядом с этим талантливым и ярким человеком.
Нередко я сердилась на какие-то глупые мелочи: разбросал вещи, бумаги, что-то забыл, и осознать и понять это можно только сейчас, когда невозможно уже что-нибудь исправить!
Берегите друг-друга, дорогие друзья!
Это такое счастье быть вместе!
Я благодарю вас всех за ваши такие проникновенные слова поддержки и глубокой скорби, дивные воспоминания о Леониде Абрамовиче!
Поверьте, ваши слова помогают мне выживать в это тяжелое для меня время.
Если бы Леонид Абрамович мог услышать ваши слова, обращённые к нему, он был бы совершенно счастлив, ибо превыше всего ценил человеческое добро.
Кланяюсь вам!
С любовью и благодарностью,
Ваша Н.П. Валяева
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Translation from Russian:
To our dear friends who have sent their condolences, farewell, flowers, gifts, in connection with the departure of my dear husband Leonid Abramovich Shulman.
Dear frends!
Time stopped for me when Leonid Abramovich left us forever.
It's so scary to be alone in the painful silence of an empty apartment, not to hear his voice: "Look at this!", "Read this!", "Don't miss it !!", "Let's definitely listen to this concert!" etc ...
I had the happiness of almost half of my life next to this talented and bright person.
Often I was angry at some stupid little things: scattered things, papers, and I can only realize and understand this now, when it is already impossible to fix something!
Take care of each other, dear friends!
It's such a happiness to be together!
I thank you all for your heartfelt words of support and deep sorrow, wonderful memories of Leonid Abramovich!
Believe me, your words help me to survive in this difficult time for me.
If Leonid Abramovich could hear your words addressed to him, he would be completely happy, for he appreciated human good above all.
I bow to you!
With love and gratitude,
Your N. P. Valyaeva
——————————————-
We are here to celebrate your life
And the measure of its worth
And every single life you touched
While you were on this earth.
We wish to pay our last respects.
That’s why we all are here,
To thank you for your friendship
And all the memories we hold dear.
It’s been a privilege to have known you.
We were family, not just friends,
And we will carry you in spirit
Until we meet up once again.
Olga Khrichenko
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Message from Mather, Leonid’s and Nina friend:
My dear Nina,
My hart still aches with the news of Leonid’s death and I am so sorry tor your loss! I am also very happy that you and Leonid joined us for the Leonard Bernstein – Beethoven Symphony No. 9 Meetup on December 22.
Leonid was a dear, dear man and a great musician, and his devotion to music has touched me so deeply and always will. Among many other things, I will always remember with happiness the talks on Shostakovich he gave to the Meetup group. It was a joy to me and to so many of us in the Meetup to know him, and we grieve with you the loss of our dear friend. We all love him always.
Dear Nina, I would very much like to host some events for our Meetup group in the near future and at your convenience, during which we can remember Leonid. I would like to host an online shiva first and later I would like to host an online Meetup in which we would play some of his favorite pieces of Russian music. I would like for you to join us for these events, Nina, but only after you feel better.
Thank you, dear Nina. I send you my deepest and most sincere condolences.
Love,
Mather Pfeiffenberger,
Organizer of The DC Classical Music Meetup Group