Obituary of Nina Kowalsky

Nina Elizbarovna Vatchnadze Kowalsky of Douglas Manor, NY, beloved daughter of the late Elizbar Vatchnadze and Elena Diasamidze was born in Berlin on December 31, 1939. She made her peaceful transition on August 2, 2022 at the age of 82, surrounded by family. She was a loving wife of 53 years to Victor Kowalsky and cherished mother of Elena Kowalsky and Nina Doughney. Devoted grandmother of Colin G. and Gwenyth S. Doughney. Loving sister-in-law of Raisa Marks and mother-in-law of Kevin Doughney. Life-long friend of 62 years to Johanna M. Fritsche. Nina was a graduate of The City College of New York and the Mayer School of Fashion Design.

Nina will be remembered for her sparkling, generous and embracing spirit that enriched many lives. She was always interested in hearing from and guiding others, holding uplifting and lively conversations and was gifted at connecting people. It is evident how much people adore Nina by the outpouring of well wishes during her time in palliative care.

Princess Nina Vatchnadze was a descendant of the Vatchnadze and Disamidze Georgian noble families (Republic of Georgia). The Vatchnadze and Diasamidze families have a rich history of military and cultural figures. Her late grandfather, the scholar and journalist Grigori Diasamidze’s diaries are archived at a national Georgian library for their historical significance. Her late father Elizbar Vatchnadze defended Georgia in the early 1920’s with Kakutsa Cholokashivili, a Georgian national hero. She grew up on Manhattan’s upper west side on Riverside Drive shortly after the end of WWII, immigrating to the United States from Germany via the Red Cross in 1952 with her mother and grandfather. She was fluent in Russian and German.

Raising a happy family and settled in Douglas Manor for over 40 years, Nina was known in the community as a “neighborhood gem”. A warm, vivacious, and generous personality made her beloved to all who knew her. She served the community as a sincerely dedicated, ethical, and tireless licensed real estate broker for over 30 years, beginning at Bryce Rea Real Estate and more recently at Daniel Gale Sotheby’s, Inc. and had no plans to retire. She was membership chair and co-chair for the Women’s Club of Douglaston, a fellowship of women dedicated to community service for many years. She was a Board Member/Membership Chairman of the Douglas Manor Association for over 12 years and a notary public. She was a Douglaston Club member for nearly 40 years and helped sponsor and welcome new members.

She loved the songs “Ivushka” (Little Willow Tree) and “Tbiliso” (a song about the city of Tbilisi, Georgia). She adored the arts, (above all opera and ballet) and studied opera and vocal technique in her youth, amassing an extensive vinyl collection of classical music. Classical literature and poetry were highly valued and she instilled this love for literature in both her children, along with her love for languages and mythology.

What would make Nina happiest is that you get together and share moments from her life that you treasure. A memorial will be planned in the near future.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Fairchild Sons Funeral Home, Manhasset, NY, https://fairchildsons.com. Join us in celebrating the life and memory of Nina on August 8th, 2022 from 4pm-8pm. If you have a photo with Nina that you cherish, we invite you to bring a copy to the wake where a pin board will be made available. She was proud of her Georgian heritage and passed the love of the culture and music to her children. Donations may be made in her name to American Friends of Georgia. https://www.afgeorgia.org/