In Memorian: Asya Zabelin and Claudia Rubanov

The Board, members and friends of the Russian Center would like to take a moment to honor two remarkable women who played significant roles in past festivals. Xenia (Asya) Zabelin and Claudia Rubanov were key leaders and contributors at the Russian Center. They were deeply involved in the Russian Festival for many years. We extend our heartfelt thanks for their years of service and share our deepest condolences with their families. They will be greatly missed.

Xenia (Asya) Zabelin (née Nesterov)

1929 - 2026

Asya Zabelin was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, to Russian parents who had emigrated due to the 1917 revolution. In 1948, she married Sven Zabelin and moved to San Francisco. In the 1980s, Xenia became actively involved in the Russian Center of San Francisco. She presided over the Ladies Committee and hosted many New Year’s celebrations and events. Her dedication to the community was evident in her work at the annual Russian Festival, where she was responsible for the “blini” section until her retirement in the late 1990s.

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Claudia Rubanov

1940 - 2026

Claudia Rubanov was born in Harbin, China. Her family emigrated to Brazil in 1953 and then to the United States in 1968. From the 1980's until 2015, Claudia could always be found at the Russian Festival dessert table and served as the bookkeeper for the Russian Center of San Francisco.