Michael Constantinovich Fedoroff
11/27/1942 - 09/17/2024
Mike was born in Shanghai, to a White Russian family that fled to China during the Revolution of 1917. Among his distinguished forebears were a great-great-grandfather who was Governor General of Kiev. Mike was predeceased by his parents, Constantin Constantinovich Fedoroff and Olga Spiridonovna Snedjko; and his brother, Constantin Jr., "Connie." He is survived by his wife, Valentina; daughter, Katherine Vandermeulen (Jeff); grandchildren, Alexandra and Konstantin Hook; cousin, John Kuhn Bleimaier (Marina); cousin, Alex Muhanoff (Diana); brothers and sisters-in-law, Natalie Fedoroff, Maria Dichov, Alexander Dichov (Lisa); Alex's children, Jessica Dichov, Monica Dichov (Matthew), and her son, Shawn Jr., and stepson, Madix, Michael Dichov (Cecily), Ann Rose Dichov (Tom); nephews, Steven (Karil), Andrew (Vicki), and their children, Nikolai, Katerina, and Dimitri.
Mike grew up in San Francisco's Richmond district. He went to George Washington High School, where he made lifelong friends. He spent many hours at the Russian Center on Sutter Street, attending Sokol as a gymnast. In 1961, invited by friends at Cal who recognized his skills, he got second place at a Cal gymnastics meet. He was an artist, his favorite subjects being wildlife and landscapes. He began his working life as a food scientist with Del Monte Corporation, but after a few years became his own boss as a building contractor. This gave him not only an income, but an opportunity to hang a "Gone Fishing" sign on his door. When he wasn't fishing, he panned for gold in the Stanislaus River, where he spent summers in his youth and met his future wife. Ever the dreamer, he would try to recruit unwitting family members and friends to join money-making endeavors, such as milking rattlesnakes of their venom for serum.
With his brother, Connie, he spent time roaming around antique shops in the Gold Country. He was an ocean and fresh water fisherman, coin collector, and rock hound. He had a unique sense of humor, delivered in a gravelly cowboy voice. He is now at rest, and we sorely miss him. A memorial service is planned for mid-November, exact time and place TBA. For details, please contact Katherine Vandermeulen at [email protected]

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by San Francisco Chronicle from Sep. 24 to Sep. 26, 2024.

Memories and Condolences
for Michael Fedoroff

Sponsored by Daneri Mortuary - Jackson.

4 Entries

Boris DeDenko

April 28, 2025

Mike, growing up with you, Connie, and my brother Dmitri was a wonderful experience. I was the brat who sometimes got in the way, but we had fun! I apologise for not being able to attend your memorial, but you will not be forgotten. Boris (Bob).

John Kuhn Bleimaier

October 5, 2024

To Mikhail Konstantinovich (1944-2024)

Here I sit alone at the Round Table;
The knighthood was real, this is no fable.
Behold the gallant company of the Tsar's officer corps:
Sworn to God, Honor and the Code; no need for more.

The Lord has just collected Sir Mikhail, my ultimate brother.
All is still around the noble board; tis only I, there is no other.
Faith, Duty, Truth and Courage: to this we were born and bred;
We marched to a historic drum beat, despising scamps... nuff said!

Your departure, my sibling, leaves the world in darkest shadow.
Look, this night a lunar eclipse places us all at a loss and callow.
A celestial symbol that man and nature mourn the passing
Of a peerless hero: bright, cool, steady, bold and dashing.

I hold aloft the ancient Holy Image from our vaunted valiant clan.
We rallied round to the last, each had to acquit himself as a man.
Our ancestors stood against the Corsican usurper and the Turk;
Faced down the Kaiser and the reds with flashing sword and dirk.

Farewell Sir Mikhail it was an honor to have stood by your side.
The mighty legacy of those who went before us will ere abide.
To write the chronicle and pass the lance is now what is left to me;
I have sworn my oath to insure that future generations the truth shall see.

Ivan Iosifovich

17-IX-2024

John Kuhn Bleimaier