David Olbinsky

The definition of a mensch passed away on November 13, 2024 at the still too young to leave us age of 90. David Olbinsky (Dave or Danyechka as he was lovingly called his entire life), the beloved son of Lev and Freida Olbinsky, was born in Kiev, Ukraine in the Former Soviet Union on April 11, 1934. He grew up in a loving home, surrounded by many close family and friends. His idyllic childhood was brutally interrupted in 1941 when he was 7, and his family escaped the impending Nazi invasion of Kiev on a train to Kungur, where his sister was born and the family spent the next 4 years. He finished his education, served in the Soviet army through conscription, and spent his 20s and early 30s having a great time with friends. When he was 33, he was introduced to the woman who would be his wife and life partner for 57 years, Melania (Mila) Posternak. They immigrated to the United States as Jewish refugees in 1978, settling and building a beautiful life in Cleveland.

He had enormous love and pride for his daughter, Regina, and all her academic, professional, and personal accomplishments, but even more in his granddaughter, Emily.

Dave leaves behind an enormous legacy of love, friendship, hard work, giving, and caring. He will be forever missed and remembered by his wife, Mila; daughter, Regina, and son-in-law, Ray; grandchildren, Emily, Cory (Jaime), and Jeremy; brother, Nathan (Anna OBM); brother-in-law, Jacob; nephews, Greg (Bella) Katz and Sasha; grandnieces, Leanna (Connor) and Angela (Daniel); grandnephew, Steve (Yelena); great-grandnephews, Andrew and Ethan; grand-dogs, Max and Milo; and hundreds of close family and friends who will miss his sense of humor; Yiddish, Ukrainian, and Russian proverbs for every occasion; and mostly his big heart.

He was predeceased by his parents; younger sister, Fira; and nephew, Steve.

Funeral services will be on Friday, November 15 at 1:00 pm at Berkowitz-Kumin-Bookatz Memorial Chapel,1985 South Taylor Road, Cleveland Heights. Internment at Mt. Sinai Cemetery, 6576 White Rd, Cleveland.

The family will be sitting shiva at the home of Regina and Ray, 8175 Devon Court, Chagrin Falls, immediately following internment, until 6:00, Saturday, 6:00-8:30 pm, and Sunday, 1:00-5:00 pm.

Please NO flowers. To honor Dave’s memory, please be kind to others, help them in any way that you can, show and share your love through words and actions, and mend relationships while there’s still time. Donations may be made to Congregation Mishkan Or, Cantor Vladimir Lapin discretionary fund or Maltz Hospice House.

Friends who are unable to attend the service may view it on Friday, November 15 at 1 PM by going to BKBMC.COM scroll down to obituaries, click on obituary of David Olbinsky, scroll down to join live stream, click on join live stream.