Obituary: Victor Pavlenko

Vic attended college at Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Ind. At Valpo, Vic majored in business, but more importantly, he met his wife and partner of 57 years, Nancy. Vic charmed Nancy with his curiosity and sense of adventure, and the two were married in December 1966, as Nancy was starting her teaching career and Vic began his master’s degree at Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa.

Vic graduated from Wartburg in 1971 and was ordained at Canton Lutheran Church in Canton, S.D., where he was called as an associate pastor. All told, Vic and Nancy spent 13 years living in Canton, raising their daughters, Laura and Catherine.

1983 marked a big shift for Vic’s career and for his family. Vic accepted a role as head of strategy at New Vector, a cellular telephone start-up based in Bellevue, Wash. In 1986, Vic was promoted to a broader role at New Vector’s parent company, US West, and he and the family moved to Greenwood Village, Colo. There Vic helped lead the development of US West’s cellular networks and partnerships in Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Russia. In 1993, with their daughters both in college, Vic and Nancy moved to Moscow, where Vic was named president of US West’s Russia operations and its local cellular joint-venture.

Vic retired from US West in 1996 and returned to his pastoral career. He was called to Good Samaritan Lutheran Church in Lanham, Md., and St. John Lutheran Church in Erie, Pa. In 2013, Vic and Nancy moved to Hood River. Vic enjoyed the Hood River lifestyle, sailing his boat on the Columbia River, serving as a member of the Hood River Planning Commission, volunteering at the Lions Club and as a spiritual counselor and advocate for prisoners in Oregon’s Department of Corrections, and occasionally preaching at Riverside Community Church.

Vic was an avid reader and student of international affairs. He sought adventure and was always curious about others, interviewing friends and strangers alike to learn more about their life experiences, interests, and dreams. He made his own drums and led drumming circles for children and adults. Every dog Vic met was perfect and earned a scratch on the tummy. As the loudest family cheerleader, Vic enthusiastically rooted for Nancy, his daughters, sons-in-law, and grandchildren in the classroom, on sports fields and racecourses, at musical performances, and in the workplace.

Vic is survived by his wife, Nancy; daughters Laura (Josh) Lutton and Catherine (T) Dalbey; grandchildren Ted and Cal Lutton and Hugh and Anna Dalbey; and nephew Nicholas Pavlenko. Vic was preceded in death by his parents, Victor Z. and Lucy, and his brother, Alex.

A celebration of Vic’s life will be held on Saturday, May 11 at 3 p.m. at Riverside Community Church, 317 State St., Hood River. In lieu of flowers, please join the celebration at Riverside and help yourself to a book or two from Vic’s expansive collection. All are welcome. Visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for the family.