Remembering Helen Mikhalevsky
Born Helen Leslie in March of 1924 shortly after her parents arrived in New York City from Russia through Turkey and Ellis Island, Helen was baptized in Yonkers, New York. She was named after her godmother, Helen Gould, whose family had sponsored the Leslies to come to the United States. In 1936 her father took a position with the US Government in Washington, DC and the family (parents George and Eugenia, brother Dimitri) joined the Russian Orthodox Church of Saint Nicholas, then located in a house in Northwest Washington, DC. Dimitri was a member of Chapter 79 of the Federated Russian Orthodox Clubs (now known as the Fellowship of Orthodox Christians in America, still a functioning organization in Washington, DC). Helen graduated from Western High School in Georgetown (now the Duke Ellington School for the Arts) and went off to Mary Washington College to study. Her mother Eugenia was active in the Sisterhood and the family attended until they moved to Florida in the mid-1950s. Before marrying, Helen held several secretarial positions in legal firms and at the Department of the Navy.
Helen met her husband, Alexander, in the tenements of New York City when she was a toddler. His family had immigrated from Russia though Ellis Island around the same time and lived in the same tenement. With the many life changes both families went through, the two did not meet again until their early- to mid-20s. They were married at St. Nicholas (on Church Street) in September of 1949. At that time, Alec’s parents (father Serge and stepmother Olga) were also members of the Cathedral, having joined when they moved to the area for employment at the Library of Congress in the mid-forties.
With Alec in the US Army, Helen followed him to his many duty stations including Japan, Massachusetts, Virginia, New Jersey, and Morocco. Following a final duty assignment at the Pentagon, the family settled in Alexandria, Virginia where Helen lived until her death. With each duty assignment in Virginia, the family would return to St. Nicholas where their daughter, Elizabeth, was baptized. Following the death of Alec in 1981, Helen once again became a regular attendee of the Cathedral. Her grandson, Patrick, was baptized at the Cathedral in the fall of 1984, giving the Leslie and Mikhalevsky family 4 generations in attendance at Saint Nicholas, now known as Saint Nicholas Cathedral.
In the late 1990s, Helen became the Gift Corner Coordinator, and many will remember her behind the counter, helping guests and parishioners. Her bilingual capabilities made her adept at helping everyone! She would often open the counter for visitors, tours and on special occasions, such as the Maslenitsa events at the Russian Embassy. Following her years as the Gift Corner Coordinator, Helen returned to regular worship until her health kept her from attendance. As she entered her final years of life, she enjoyed visits from the parish clergy and parishioners.
Helen passed away in June of 2016 following several years of declining health. Her daughter, Elizabeth and grandson, Patrick continue to worship at the Cathedral. Memory Eternal!
