Lydia Jehangir Tata

Lydia Jehangir Tata passed away on January 19, 2024, in Bethesda, Maryland at the age of 93. She was
born in Shanghai, China to Lydia Chernikeeva and Gregory Baikalov and grew up amid the city’s vibrant
White Russian community. In her youth, Lydia’s artistic talents were noticed by a benefactor who
arranged a tutelage with the Russian émigré artist Mikhail Kichigin, developing what would become her
lifelong passion for art.

In 1952 she married Jehangir Bejan Tata (Jaybe). They bonded over their love of classical music and
dancing; together, they were a delight to watch on the dance floor. Their lives took them around the
world, first from Shanghai to Brazil, and eventually back east to Hong Kong where they had daughters
Claudia and Irene. Finally, in the mid-1990s prior to the handover of Hong Kong, Lydia and Jaybe settled
in San Francisco, California.

Lydia Tata had a gift for languages, and was fluent in English, Russian, Portuguese, and French. Her home
housed an impressive collection of history, art and language books, reflecting her love of reading. She
loved to visit art galleries and museums and spent her whole life creating her own art. She was
particularly proud of her pastels. Her work hangs on the walls in her daughters’ and granddaughters’
homes. Throughout her life she enjoyed entertaining friends with her delicious food. Lydia was also a
lifelong gardener and had a special affinity for rosebushes.

She is survived by her daughters Claudia Maxey (spouse Gregory) and Irene Tata (spouse Nicolas
Kotschoubey); granddaughters Elizabeth Maxey (spouse Taewon Kim), Sophia Kotschoubey, and Elena
Kotschoubey; and sister Nadia Gillespie. Lydia is predeceased by her husband Jehangir Bejan Tata (1919-
2013).

A panikhida will be held at the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, 4001 17 th St NW
Washington, DC 20011 on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 and the funeral will follow on Thursday,
January 25, 2024 at 10am. The burial will take place immediately after at Rock Creek Cemetery, 100
Allison Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20011.

In lieu of flowers please donate to:
ST THECLA ORTHODOX CHURCH (Building Fund)
11510 Georgia Avenue, Suite LLA
Silver Spring, MD, 20902
https://www.st-thecla.org/donate

Or

RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST (General Fund)

4001 17th St NW
Washington, DC 20011
https://stjohndc.org/en/donate

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