Tamara Shekhtman

Tamara Shekhtman passed away on October 25, 2026, at the age of 85. She was a loving mother, grandmother, aunt, great-aunt, and friend. Her kindness, humor, and caring nature made her someone special to everyone who had the pleasure of knowing her.
Tamara was born on July 2, 1941, in Starodub, Russia, to her parents, Abram Shekhtman and Elizaveta Leah Garelik. She grew up with her two sisters, Sophia and Nellya, and spent much of her early life in Gomel, Belarus, before immigrating to Columbus, Ohio, in the year 2000.
Tamara had a lifelong love for theater, the arts, and teaching. She was a talented theater teacher who found profound joy in bringing people together through her craft. Tamara worked as a theater director at recreation centers and local schools, sharing her passion with both children and adults in her community.
Outside of her work, Tamara enjoyed knitting, solving crossword puzzles, and being crafty. She always had a great appreciation for the simple pleasures in life, but what mattered most to her was the love she had for the people who surrounded her.
To her family, Tamara was so much more than just a person. She was someone who cared deeply about everything she did, someone who knew how to make people laugh even in hard times, and a special person who brought her own loving warmth into their lives. Tamara will always be remembered for the special moments she was a part of, both big and small. Anyone who got the chance to know her knew how much of a gift her life and time was to us all.
Tamara's legacy and life continues to live through her daughter, Lizaveta Belousova; granddaughter, Dasha Belousova; and numerous nieces and nephews: Diana and Praveen Kumar, Irina Itunina, Elena Itunina, Tamara Itunina, Svetlana Shumakova, Alexander Shumakov, and as a great-aunt to their many children. She leaves behind family and friends who will always cherish the time they shared with her and the memories that will remain a part of their lives forever. May her Neshama have an Aliyah.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. at Riverside Cemetery, 3840 Sunbury Road, Columbus, OH 43219