Vladislav Vadimovich Gubin

Vlad was an amazing father, husband, friend, brother, and son. He will be missed and remembered by many. The following was written by his daughters, Sveta and Lada. We hope that it conveys the type of person our father was and the hole he has left in our hearts and our lives. We love you Dad: First and foremost, our dad loved a good laugh. He always had a smile on his face, and a joke in his backpocket. No one was to be spared. On a trip to Atlantic city, Sveta became the unfortunate victim of a seagull poop attack. As a way of consoling his traumatized young daughter, over what was clearly a life-altering event, he deadpan uttered “Good thing cows don't fly.” He was also a stubborn man. Not to be outdone by Lada’s rogue eyebrow piercing in her teens, and despite many side-eye protests from Olga, Vlad pierced his left ear at the ripe age of 40. Mom learned to love it. If you knew Dad you also knew he never met an animal he did not try to pet, hold, feed, or have a full conversation with. Luckily for him, animals seemed to love him back. From the trespassing, milk drinking, home invader racoon, Marianna, in our childhood home in Columbus. To the ubiquitous “Foxy”, with a designated stump in the wooded area behind his and Mom’s Virginia home, piled high with leftovers and scraps after every meal. Between us, jury is still out if there was an actual fox partaking in the feast, most likely just a very well fed racoon and neighborhood cats. Many a squirrels and birds who call the trees around Virginia office buildings their home will notice his absence. Along with the donkeys in Bonaire, alpacas in Peru, iguanas in Cozumel, cats in Morocco, horses in Iceland, a certain dog in Texas, koi fishes in their Virginia home pond, and of course, his lapcat, Rusty. Dad’s biggest joy in life came from being able to share the things that he loved, with those he loved. Since him and mom discovered SCUBA diving the entire family, including spouses, are now certified. Fois Grais, his favorite indulgence, became a staple at every family dinner. Aperol Spritzers were not to be turned down when offered on a hot day. A shot of vodka is a must at a family gathering, but only with a pickle chaser (At the end of the day, there are rules!). A whole leg of jamon must be purchased every year from Costco, to be shared with every person who finds themselves with a toe over Vlad’s threshold. He loved a good card game and he loved his cigars. Every country visited, which was a lot of countries, was immediately recommended as a must see. He shared his love of books and history with our mom. No gathering felt complete without the familiar, spirited debate over the exact date some historical moment occurred. His love of music and movies he passed on to us, his daughters. Whether age appropriate or not, a good movie was a good movie. We got introduced to the likes of Tarantino and Luc Besson before we hit our teen years. Dad was in his element at a table surrounded by great food and even greater company. Our childhood and later years were always filled with big gatherings of friends and family, the room always buzzing with stories, laughter, banter, and loud enthusiastic conversation. In these moments you could see the merriment on his face, it truly was a source of deep joy for him. And if some tea and a game of Durak came after, well that was simply the perfect way to end the night. Although Dad had a new found favorite dish and beverage every month, there was one constant in his life that was his true other half, our mom. They started dating in 1984, after marrying a year later, they were inseparable. Our parents truly understood the meaning of companionship, and that friendship is the foundation of marriage. They were each other's favorite person. They braved many overseas travels with boisterous toddlers and colicky teenagers. A life-altering move to a new country, learning a new language, and new skills. Our parents shared a deep love of literature, art, and good food. Dad would fall in love with a new dish discovered during their travel, and through a combination of Dad’s enthusiastic requests and Mom’s culinary deftness, it wasn't long before the dish was recreated at their own table and earned a permanent spot on the dinner menu. They laughed, learned, stumbled, triumphed, marveled, and loved together. Dad was a caretaker at his very core. Anyone who walked through our front door was welcomed as family without hesitation. And if a boyfriend happened to be handy with a toolbox, that was a straight shot into Dad’s good graces. Our friends will tell you he never hesitated to step into a fatherly role when it was needed. If you were brought into his life, you were looked after. Family and friends were top priority in his life. He was the steady force in our family, the rock we all knew we could lean on. Looking after his mother and brother in Russia remained a priority, while his mother-in-law here became a second mother to him over the years. For us, from early missteps to major life decisions, we always went to Dad. He had a lot of love to give and wisdom to share. The stories and memories that were Dad’s life could fill tomes. He touched countless lives in ways both great and small—we see his impact reflected everywhere. He left a gap in our lives that will never be filled. We ask you join us to say goodbye at an informal viewing and welcome you to come by our parents’ home for a glass of port, some good food, and to share your stories about Vlad.

Tributes

Vladislav Vadimovich Gubin

March 30, 1963 - February 18, 2026