Valentina Ivanovna Tikhomirova (née Gladkaia) was born on January 16, 1946, in Reboly, Karelo-Finskaya Soviet Socialist Republic. She passed away peacefully on August 11, 2026, surrounded by her family at her home in Binghamton, New York.

She was the firstborn child of Ivan Danilovich Gladkii, a Soviet military officer, and Klavdiia Vasil’evna Gladkaia (née Tsvetkova), a military medic. She had two younger siblings, Ludmila (Luka) and Yura.

In the 1950s, her family moved from Karelia to Armavir, Krasnodarsky Krai, where they joined Ivan’s sister, Antonina Danilovna Gladkaia, and his mother, Anna Anisimovna Gladkaia.

Valentina was a dedicated and accomplished student. She graduated as salutatorian of Armavir High School No. 3 in 1963. In 1964, she entered Piatigorsky University of Foreign Languages, graduating in 1969 with a degree in English and Spanish. She devoted her professional life to education, working in both secondary and higher education in Penza Oblast (Morsovo) and Krasnodarsky Krai (Armavir).

In 1972, Valentina moved to Cherepovets, Vologda Oblast, where she began teaching English at Cherepovets City School No. 21. There, she met Aleksandr Aleksandrovitch Tikhomirov, a fellow educator and physical education teacher at nearby School No. 3. They married and had one son, Alyosha (Alexey Aleksandrovitch).

Valentina retired in 1997 after a 30-year career as an educator, during which she earned numerous professional recognitions and awards. Teaching was not simply her profession; it was a lifelong commitment to learning, education, and the young people whose lives she touched. Even in retirement, she continued to share her love of learning and languages by tutoring neighborhood children in English and Spanish. She remained a teacher at heart throughout her life, taking great joy in helping young people learn and grow.

In retirement, one of Valentina’s greatest passions became caring for stray animals. Neighbors in her apartment building and residents of the surrounding community often saw Valentina and her dear friend Galia making their daily rounds, feeding cats and birds. Her compassion for animals reflected the kindness and generosity she extended to those around her.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when travel restrictions were in place, Valentina began experiencing health problems in Russia. Thankfully, she was surrounded by a remarkable network of family, friends, and neighbors who helped care for her until Alexey could travel to her. Alexey’s stepmother, Natalia Pavlovna Tikhomirova, and his brother, Sergey Aleksandrovitch Tikhomirov, stepped in as the first line of support and care. Valentina’s neighbors—the Komarovy family, the Volna family, the Nikishenkovy family, Tatiana Nikolaevna Orlova, and many others — surrounded her with love and care, checking on her, assisting with everyday needs, and helping to keep her safe.

In 2021, Valentina came to the United States and spent the remaining five years of her life with Alexey and his wife, Cathy, in Binghamton, New York.

Valentina is survived by her son, Alexey (Cathy Abashian Williams); her grandson, Nathan Williams (Emma Cromp); and many other loved ones, including the entire Abashian family, David Williams, and her many dear neighbors and friends on the West Side of Binghamton and in Jupiter, Florida. Alexey and Valentina’s daily walks through the neighborhood provided her with friendship and companionship, bringing her tremendous joy, comfort, and a sense of belonging.

The family is grateful to Dr. Jerome Mikloucich and his staff, as well as Jessica Page, NP, and her staff, for the care they provided to Valentina. The family could not have navigated the final chapter of Valentina’s life without the compassionate care of Guthrie Lourdes Hospice. Special thanks go to the entire Hospice team, including Marie, Kim, Lauren, Nate, Kristen, Tammy, and Tristan, who cared for Valentina and supported her family during the most challenging days of her journey. Their extraordinary compassion, love, and professionalism brought tremendous comfort, relief, and peace to Valentina and her family.

Valentina’s life was defined by devotion—to her family, to education, to animals, and to the many people whose lives she touched. She will be remembered with love and gratitude by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

In recognition of the dedicated service provided by the Hospice professionals who cared for Valentina, the family kindly asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Valentina Tikhomirova’s memory to Guthrie Lourdes Hospice, NY at Lourdes Hospital Foundation:

https://www.guthrie.org/donate-hospice-new-york