Obituary of Elena Belyayev

On July 31, 2016 Elena Belyayev passed away at the Bassett Mary Imogene Hospital in Cooperstown, NY, after a long illness. A long-time prior resident of Hyde Park, NY, Mrs. Belyayev resided most recently at the Palatine Nursing Home in Palatine Bridge, NY. Mrs. Belyayev was born Elena Sadikova in 1939 to Constantin and Maria Sadikov in the City of Gorkiy (Nizhny Novgorod), USSR. A 1963 graduate of the Ural State Conservatory of Music in Sverdlovsk (Ekaterinburg), USSR, Mrs. Belyayev married Vladimir Belyayev in 1962 and enjoyed 51 long years with him until Vladimir Belyayev's death in 2013. They had one son Constantin Belyayev. Mrs. Belyayev enjoyed a fruitful career as an opera coach-accompanist throughout the USSR. In 1981 the entire family emigrated to the United States, eventually settling in Hyde Park, NY, where they founded the highly successful Hudson Valley Opera Company. Mrs. Belyayev was a well-known and respected coach-accompanist, vocal coach, and piano instructor in the area. Mrs. Belyayev also taught a popular opera familiarization course Opera, My Love, through the Dutchess Community College and was a church organist in Hyde Park. Mrs. Belyayev is survived by her son, Constantin Belyayev, daughter-in-law, JoAnne McNamara, and beloved cat Makuska, all of Sharon Springs, NY. A "celebration of life" service will be held on Saturday, August 27, 2016 at 2:00pm at The Chapel of Houghtaling & Smith Funeral Home, Inc., 20 Otsego Street, Canajoharie, NY, 13317 with Rev. Alan Griffith officiating. The family asks that any donations be made to the local ASPCA or animal shelter of choice in Mrs. Belyayev's name.