Liudmila 'Ludy' Strokova

Liudmila "Ludy" Strokova was born on May 1, 1936, in Kabardino-Balkar Republic nestled in the North Caucasus Mountains of Russia. Even though both of her parents were natives of the Russian Far East region, her father, Vasily, was a caisson engineer who built bridges and traveled to many distant corners of the vast country. Ludy's mother, Anastasia, followed her husband on his assignments through Siberia, Middle Asia and North Caucasus. When Ludy was 3, her parents returned home to Vladivostok, Russia, where Ludy would spend the next 66 years of her fruitful life before venturing halfway across the globe and settling down in Northwest Arkansas with her daughter's family. Before Liudmila made that fateful trip and started her life anew in the United States, making new friends and eventually becoming a U.S. citizen, she had achieved many accomplishments in her native country and each undertaking was pursued with her usual fervor, enthusiasm and dedication. From parachute jumping and excelling in gymnastics in college to studying to become a medical doctor; from being among the first graduates of the biology department in Vladivostok, Russia, to completing her master's degree and eventually becoming a full professor; from joining camping trips deep into the Taiga forests of the Russian Far East to embarking on a marine life research expedition across the Indian Ocean to Australia; from raising a family and teaching her daughter the love of travel from an early age to forming a new university department and being a department chair for 10 years; from publishing close to 100 scholarly articles and tutorials to teaching many generations of students for four decades — Ludy never stopped in her life pursuits. Even after retirement following the passing of her husband and moving to the U.S. in 2005, Ludy would always have a flurry of activity in and around the house with her beloved dog, Charlie, following her every step. Despite the language barrier, Ludy's uncanny ability to make friends wherever she went allowed her to meet and interact with wonderful people in Springdale Senior Center and Jones Center for Families, as well as in her neighborhood and international community of NWA. An excellent waltz dancer, Ludy greatly enjoyed dancing and never hesitated to be the first one on the dance floor. A good song could light up her entire face in an instant and she would start singing and moving to the tune. She loved the senior trips to Nashville, Tenn., and around Texas; she also joined her daughter and her husband on several trips around the United States and a cruise to Mexico. Influenced by her school teachers at an early age and always following their example of dressing elegantly, Ludy paid close attention to her appearance and wanted her clothes to look impeccable. She liked to dress up when going out or when there were guests at the house and could get upset over a single wrinkle on her skirt. Needless to say, the iron in the laundry room always got quite a workout. Ludy was a firm believer in non-material values in life. Once asked to write her biography for the university publication she noted at the end, "I do not have much jewelry or expensive clothes and it was never my goal in life. In my time, we had different moral values. I am rich with memories and experiences of my childhood, student years, expeditions and travels. I have many lifelong friends, and the biggest joy in my life is my daughter who inherited my passion for traveling." Ludy finished her life journey on March 13, 2013, at a young age of 76 and is now free to travel to her heart's content. Friends and family can wish Ludy a safe journey during the memorial service to be held at grave site at 10 a.m. on March 23, 2013, in Fairview Memorial Gardens, Fayetteville. In celebration of Ludy's life, please help someone in need, plant a tree, adopt a shelter pet or give to Springdale Senior Center, (http://springdaleseniors.webs.com/donate.htm); or Mercy Health Foundation, (http://www.mercy.net/service/mercy-health-foundation).