The family of a 75-year-old woman killed in a single-car crash on Humphrey Street Thursday night is reaching out to let people know that the woman’s surviving son is Nikolay Kuzmina, a cherished member of the Marblehead community.
Kuzmina’s sister, Olga Golinder, who lives in Miami, requested that we not include her mother’s name but wanted to make sure local residents knew that the crash victim was Kuzmina’s mother.
Funeral services will be private. It is not clear whether Kuzmina will stay in Marblehead, according to Golinder.
“He was just named employee of the month at Stop & Shop on Monday,” Golinder said. “My mother was so proud of him. He officially retired today.”
Sandi Cooper, who knows Kuzmina through her work with the Anchor to Windward (which serves adults with disabilities), told the Current, “Most of you know Nikolay for the bright light and hope that he spread throughout our beloved town, and he needs our prayers during this very sad time for him as he adjusts to life without a mother. She did a great job, as he is certainly the most polite and compassionate man.”
Kuzmina became a local celebrity last spring, when the Marblehead High track team bought a new, blue trike for him to ride after his previous one had been damaged by a pothole.
Kuzmina rode his trike every day around the MHS parking lot. After being presented with his new bike, he said, “I’m really overwhelmed. I really like my bike so much. It’s good exercise, and I get a lot of fresh air.”
Anyone who would like to leave a message for Kuzmina can do so by sending an email to this address: oliag617@gmail.com.
Editor Leigh Blander is an experienced TV, radio and print journalist.
