IVAN OBOLENSKY

OBOLENSKY--Ivan, of New York City, (born Prince Ivan Sergeyevich Obolensky - Neledinsky - Meletsky on May 15, 1925 in London, England), died on January 29, 2019. He was the son of Prince Sergei Platonovich Obolensky of Russia and Ava Alice Muriel Astor. He was a direct descendent of Rurik, the founding Ruler of Russia. Mr. Obolensky's father, known as "Serge" was a notable international social figure and a soldier in the Russian Civil War who fled his native country after battling the Bolsheviks. Through his American mother, Ivan was the elder grandson of John Jacob Astor IV, who died on the Titanic. Mr. Obolensky immigrated to the United States when he was two weeks old, aboard his uncle Vincent Astor's yacht, "Nourmahal." A great raconteur and quick wit, he attended The Buckley School in New York City, St. George's School in Newport, RI, and graduated from Yale University in 1947. He went on to become a Lieutenant in the United States Navy. In 1956, his novel, Rogue's March was published by Random House. Obolensky subsequently formed McDowell, Obolensky Inc., the firm that published James Agee's Pulitzer Prize novel, A Death in the Family, and Patton, among many other books. In 1965, he joined the investment banking firm of A.T. Brod & Company as a financial analyst. He was Vice President of Moseley, Hallgarten, Estabrook & Weeden Inc., Vice President of Shields & Company and still active in his work at Raymond James in the weeks prior to his death. Mr. Obolensky was a benefactor and champion of many causes including Children's Cancer and Blood Foundation, Soldiers', Sailors', Marines', Coast Guard and Airmen's Club, and New York's International Debutante Ball. He was also Treasurer of the Russian Nobility Association in America, Inc., and the US Prior of the Orthodox Order of St. John of Jerusalem. A freemason to the core, he was past master of the Holland Lodge No.8 and a 33 Degree Mason. Mr. Obolensky was previously married in 1949 to Claire Elizabeth McGinnis (1929 - 2015) of San Francisco with whom he had two sons and daughter: Marina "Maria" Ivanovna Obolensky, Ivan Ivanovich Obolensky, and David Ivanovich Obolensky. He subsequently married Mary Elizabeth Morris (1934 - 2006) in 1959, and they were the parents of one son, Sergei Ivanovich Obolensky. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to SSMAC at 283 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10016. A Memorial Service will be held at The Church of the Incarnation on Madison Avenue at 35th Street, NYC on February 7th at 4pm.