Nina Andreevna Belogolovy Jacobsohn

Nina Andreevna Belogolovy Jacobsohn died peacefully on March 31, 2020 in Napa, California at the age of 97 years old. She was tenderly taken care of by her daughter, Barbara Phelps and was surrounded by love from her three children (Irene, Charles and Barbara), her grandchildren, her sister and her departed husband’s sister.
 
Nina was born to Barbara Grant Belogolovy and Andrei Belogolovy on February 9, 1923 in Wonsan, Korea while the family fled from the Communist Bolsheviks during the Russian Revolution of 1917; her father Andrei had served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Russian Imperial (Czarist) Army. The family moved to the Czarist Russian Embassy in Seoul, Korea where Nina’s sister Tamara was born. Living close to expatriates, both sisters learned to speak Russian, Korean, Japanese, English and French and later served as secretaries for several US Army Generals. After they received a glowing commendation from their generals, Nina was sponsored by the Appenzeller family of the Methodist Church to emigrate to Honolulu, Hawaii and then to San Francisco, California.   
 
Nina enrolled at the University of California (Cal) Berkeley where she met her future husband, Peter Jacobsohn, an architecture student, at the International House. Nina completed her BA in Liberal Arts while Peter received his MA in Architecture. They married in 1948 and had three children:  daughter, Irene (’51), son Charles (‘53) and Barbara (’55). Upon the birth of Barbara, they moved to Fremont, an emerging suburb where Peter grew his architectural practice and Nina raised their children. Both Nina and Peter were founding members of Fremont’s historical, cultural and educational organizations, including the Fremont Symphony and the Historical Architectural Review Board.
 
After Nina earned her teaching certificate from San Jose State University (SJSU), she taught second grade for Mountain View for 32 years and then as a substitute teacher for Fremont schools until the age of 88.
 
In addition to her family, Nina’s loves included travel to Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, Scotland, Germany, the Mediterranean, Africa, Costa Rica, Bali and the Seychelles. She and Peter vacationed every Christmas in Kauai. In their travels both Nina and Peter enjoyed their favorite pastimes of dancing, tennis, fine dining and collecting art from local artists.
 
After Peter died and Nina experienced a stroke, she left Fremont and settled in a board and care facility in a single-family home in Napa. This location was a perfect environment for Nina to continue to enjoy Napa’s wine country, including wine tasting, concerts and gourmet food. Barbara traveled 3 hours every week to visit Nina, who kept Barbara very busy arranging a variety of adventures, including cultural activities, visits to art museums and a castle winery, a wine train ride and a  memorable family reunion. 
 
Nina was loved for her spirit of adventure and love of learning, her resourcefulness, imagination and creativity. She collaborated hands-on with Peter on the house and garden on both Fremont houses. She encouraged her children and grandchildren to experiment in the kitchen, in the lab, in the art studio and in the pool! Many last-minute art and science projects were completed with her resourceful contributions.
 
Nina is survived by her two devoted daughters and son: Irene Jacobsohn Norsworthy of Richmond, Virginia; Charles Jacobsohn of Lawrence, Kansas, and Barbara Jacobsohn Phelps of Kelseyville, California. She is also survived by five grandchildren: Stephen Jacobsohn of Turlock, California, Priscilla Jacobsohn Moorehead of Lawrence, Kansas, Joe Jacobsohn of Manteca, California, Betsy Jacobsohn Filip of Joplin, Missouri, Josh Jacobsohn of Lawrence, Kansas, one step-grandson Nathan of San Francisco, California. The sixth grandson David Jacobsohn died in 2009. Nina is also survived by her sister Tamara Allen of Tustin, California. Additionally, Nina is survived by three great-grandchildren Kaylee, Halo, and Wesley. 
 
Nina will be missed for her adventurous spirit and passion for life.

Memorial service will be held at Tulocay Funeral Home in Napa, California. The date will be announced at a later time.

Please check for updates at TulocayCemetery.org. The Tulocay Funeral Home is located at:   411 Coombsville Rd, Napa, CA 94558

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