Alexander Gokhman passed away on Friday, June 27. He was born October 14, 1946 in Minsk, Belarus. He started playing the violin at the age of 6, and it became his lifelong passion.
He was accepted into Glinka School of Music. Afterward, he attended the Belorussian Conservatory of Music in Minsk and graduated in 1969.
He worked in the Symphony Orchestra of the Belorussian National Opera and Ballet Theater. He played for the Belorussian Symphony Orchestra for State Radio and TV from 1972 to 1988 and the Belorussian State TV and Radio String Quartet from 1986 to 1988. He played for world-renowned conductors including Valeriy Gergiev, Mstislav Rostropovich and Aram Khachaturyan. He also was a violin instructor and music director of the chamber orchestra at the Glinka School of Music in Minsk from 1979 to 1986.
Alexander worked as a concertmaster of the Eastern Europe Chamber Orchestra in New York City. He then moved to Eugene, Oregon where he played with the Eugene Symphony from 1989 to 2000 and the Orchestra of the Oregon Festival of American Music from 1995 to 2000.
After moving to Clackamas, he played with the Portland Opera Orchestra, Portland Chamber Orchestra, Oregon Chamber Players for two years, Portland Festival Symphony, and Sinfonia Concertante Orchestra. He was concertmaster of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra from 2001 to 2007. He became the string coach for the Clark College Orchestra in 2003. He was an orchestra concertmaster for the Three Irish Tenors’ Portland performance and played with the Transsiberian Orchestra in the Rose Garden arena in Portland in 2003.
He enjoyed playing both classical and jazz music. He participated in the International Jazz Festival in Belarus. He was a member of the Alla Breve Duo with pianist Jim Fischer, where he played different styles of music in concerts, libraries and other small venues. He also offered private violin and piano lessons from 1989 to 2000.
He married his wife Anna on Sept. 6, 1980. He left the Soviet Union with his family in 1988. They lived in New York for a short time and then moved to Eugene, where they stayed until 2000. Alexander and Anna then moved to Clackamas.
He courageously battled cancer for eight years, and Anna gave him the strength to deal with the disease.
He enjoyed having friends and family visit his home for food, drink, and conversation. He also liked trips to the Oregon coast.
He leaves behind his wife of 28 years Anna; daughters Natalia Lavrov and Irena Pyrko; son Roman; and grandchildren Antony and Aleksey Lavrov and Pavel and Anastasiya Pyrko.

Guest Book

Luda Kremers:

The very first time I heard of Sasha Gokhman was in Irkutsk, Siberia, Russia. I heard about the Gokhmans from Joe Kremers, who was telling me about Eugene, Oregon, and his friends, Sasha, Anya, and Roman. And then, one year later, I met the family. I can still picture us (my daughter and me) standing on Friendly St. in Eugene waiting for Sasha and Anya to arrive. I remember feeling very nervous. But when the car stopped and they got out, Sasha looked at us, smiled, and said something funny to break ice. I looked at him, and his eyes were smiling at us. His eyes had sparkles. He had a gift ( actually, he had many gifts), and one of them was to make you feel comfortable and at ease. We met at 1992, and we've been friends ever since. Sasha loved life. He was a good friend and a great host. He loved having people over. He loved good food, a good drink, and he always had a good joke , and a funny story to tell. When Sasha and Anya told us ( their friends in Eugene), they were moving up to Portland, we being selfish didn't want them to go, but being good friends, we were happy for them. The very last time I saw Sasha was some time in May. His family and his friends came to see him. Sasha was very sick, but his eyes still had sparkles. They were smiling. Later in the evening, we sat around the table. And Sasha loved that. There was good food, good wine and vodka of course, good stories and funny jokes, but most important his family, his wife, his children, his grandchildren, and his friends were with him. Sasha was ill, but his eyes were smiling. Sasha was happy and proud of his family. We shared some wonderful times and memories together. We will never forget them and we will never forget you, Sasha. We miss you.

Virginia Kaiser:

I had the joy of knowing Sascha during his tenure with the Eugene Symphony. He was always an inspiration. I enjoyed listening to him play and played as his stand partner many times. I was saddened to hear of his passing even though it has been many years since I last saw him. The music community will surely miss his fun loving spirit and his passionate love of music of many different styles.

David Burham:

As a member of the Eugene Symphony, I had the pleasure of knowing Sascha from 1989 - 2000. At times, he was my stand partner - one of my favorites - and always played very passionately. Music, it seemed, was one of his "reasons for being". He and I also shared a love of jazz and improvisation, and we would frequently play impromptu jazz duets at break just before rehearsals began. These would either be related to jazz standards, or just simply be "free improvisation". Sascha taught me one of the three Russian words that I know, which I won't attempt to spell here. We shared a bit of heritage in that my grandfather originally came from Minsk, and escaped from Russia when he was 15 by getting the German guards drunk, and crossing the border. Sascha was simply one of the most versatile, humble and superbly musical violinists I have ever met. Frequently, before a rehearsal would begin, he would lightly drop his bow on the string and I would listen to the small and very defined rebounds of his bow as it chattered precisely and evenly over the course of his down bow, a feat I've not been able to duplicate. I will miss Sascha and his spirit.

Cindy Petty:

I played violin with Sasha on many occasions, sharing a stand and many a joke! His eyes always sparkled when he was joking! He was definitely an inspiration and an amazing person and player - always challenging traditional fingerings and adamantly saying - "fingerings are for the music not the ease of playing!" His smile and kind nature was intoxicating. We always talked about him playing in the Oregon Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra so that I could enjoy the privilege of his leadership in an orchestra that I conduct - I will miss not having that experience. My thoughts and prayers are with each of you who will grieve the loss of this extraordinary man, musician, and friend.

Kirsten Hisatomi:

As a fellow violinist, I first met Sasha many years ago at a Portland Chamber Orchestra gig. We shared only a brief hello, but it was shortly thereafter that his name was suggested as a possible concertmaster for the Vancouver Symphony. He played 2 concerts and it was decided he would be the one – along with his lovely playing, his years of experience and wealth of knowledge set him apart. From that day forward Sasha was a fixture within the VSO – whether it be on our audition committee or sharing in the fellowship at a post-concert reception – Sasha was there to share his passion and joy that was the VSO. I have many fond memories of our times spent together, as Sasha was always 100% professional in every aspect of his work – from helping the violin sections with specific fingerings that would make a particular passage easier to play or making the guest artists feel at ease in Sasha’s friendly and positive way. Always with a smile and smartly dressed, he was a trusted friend and colleague that could be depended upon. There was a fine teacher in Sasha as well, as he always wanted to help and was always available to answer any questions. He was the constant factor that made the VSO a family. I also knew Sasha as a devoted husband. Many times after our evening VSO rehearsals, the musicians would go out and Sasha, on a few occasions, would join us. But – knowing that Anna would worry, he’d always call her, just to say “don’t worry,” he was going out, but he’d be home soon. It would always make me smile – “so sweet that he would let her know” – it was easy to see she was his love. I hadn’t seen Sasha as of late – but I had heard from a friend that he’d seen him out and playing music in Vancouver with Jim – it was good to hear that he was doing gigs. Sasha will be missed, as he was a kind and warm soul, always the utmost of professionalism and so proud of what he did – which was sharing his gifts by making beautiful music.

Don Appert:

I had the privilege of working with Sasha when he was Principal Second Violinist of the Clark College Orchestra. It was an all too brief time due to his struggle with the cancer. His work with my orchestra was always of the highest quality and I wish we could have made more music together. My deepest sympathy and condolences to all of his family for their loss. Don Appert, Music Director - Clark College Orchestra

Salvador Brotons:

Sasha, I will always remember you for your big heart, passion for music and wonderful human being. Your time as a concertmaster of the Vancouver Symphony will never be forgotten. My deepest sympathy to Anna and all the close friends. Salvador Brotons (conductor and music director of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra).

Erik K:

Thanks for some wonderful violin playing, Sasha, and thanks for being so kind to me in our brief encounters. God Bless.

Eddie Parente & Tatiana Kolchanova Parente:

Sasha, I only met you a couple of times but you were so kind and helpful. You are a beautiful person who I know has given much beauty to this world, we will miss you dear friend! You also helped Tatiana with your friendship and advice when she was moving here to Portland. We both thank you for your kindness, with love and Respect, and deepest sympathy to Anna all the family from (violinists) Eddie Parente and Tatiana Kolchanova-Parente

Victor:

Can't believe Sasha is gone... He was one of the kindest, sweetest and bravest people I ever knew. No one -- except Anya -- knew what he was going though when walking onstage, with his usual smile, leading the orchestra, playing beautiful solos... he never complained. He loved music. He loved life. I'll never forget Java quartet, the readings and apres wine-and-cheese (or vodka-and-pickle...) Good-bye Sasha, and thank you...

Joel Littauer:

As a board member of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, I was privileged to know Sacha. He was concertmaster when I first conducted the orchestra in the outdoor concert in 2005. I'll always remember him for being such an important part of that experience. Sacha was one of those people who make the world a better place to live in. I think that the most important image the United States can show the world is that of Sacha playing music. He was ours for the short time that we knew him. Now he belongs to the musical harmony of the universe. Yasha Heifetz, David Oistrakh and Isaac Stern have surely saved a place for him alongside them.

Alicia Gronke:

I'm sure I will never understand why the ones that make the world a better place to be, who make those around them remember to live instead of just exist, are usually the ones to leave first. I count myself among the fortunate for having spent time in your presence and for having made music with you. Thank you Сашa, Alicia

Tanika:

Sasha, you will always live in our hearts and in your music. Love, Tanika