Sergey Nikolayevich Grushetskiy

Sergey Grushetskiy's house was everyone's house. Its door was revolving and its spaces communal - a place where you walk through the front door, settle in, and announce your arrival. Music would invariably be playing, wavy electronic beats usually. And no matter who you were, you knew you were not only welcomed but expected. As though, truly, Sergey's house was your house.

When those who love him reflect on who Serge was to them, there is an echo in their sentiments. This Moldovan transplant was a home and a haven to more people than he could count. He was the calm among his storm of closest friends - a quiet force that gave everyone the space to be themselves, without judgment or expectation. And yet, he had an under-the-breath wit about him that could produce a perfectly timed clapback. But always, always, Serge had a way of making everyone around him feel like he was glad they were there, underscoring that each person's presence was important. He gave everyone he met, knew, and loved the gift of seeing the best in them and reciprocating with the best of himself.

Serge was the embodiment of friendship. He was the one you went to when you were dreaming up some idea, striving for some goal, or turning a corner. He made you feel even more excited about your own life because he was excited for you and the potential of whatever opportunity you faced. And he saw the light where you saw the darkness. He was the first to offer a job when you were at a low, to make a generous donation to your passion project, or to curtail your uncertainty with sage advice. When you needed redirection, he gently gave it - sometimes explicitly and sometimes with a wordless nod.
Sergey was the lynchpin of the group. He built a basketball court in his backyard for Thursday night games with the guys. He was the father of "Stupid", a game he and his friends all convened around weekly, laughing and listening to their latest music discoveries. He kept everyone together; he made sure everyone knew they were an essential piece of the whole.

And if he wasn't hosting, no matter what, where or when it was, Serge's response was always, "I'll be there." And he was. His presence was a staple at every gathering, every game, every adventure. He was just always there.

Serge was a natural caretaker. He always said he wanted to take care of his parents one day and take them on a trip to Israel, and he did everything to put himself in a position to do that. He was the kind of brother that made his siblings proud and that supported them however he could. He adored his girlfriend, Erin Jones, and together they shared a love of music, art, fashion, basketball, and all their pets, Beckham, Herman, and Kitten.
We will struggle to figure out how we'll live each day knowing the door to Serge's house is locked; that he won't be there when we get together; that he isn't a text away; that we won't be warmed by his hug; that we've heard the last of his advice and encouragement; that he won't eat any more cookies on our kitchen counters; that he won't captain any more boats; or that we've heard the last time he said he loved us. There will, forevermore, be a hole in our hearts and in our lives without him here.
In his stead, we'll remember the lesson in friendship he gave us all: to make the time to be there for those we love. May we honor Serge's legacy by being there for one another the way Serge was there for all of us; and may we be the kind of light Serge was in all of our lives - to keep one another from slipping into the dark and leaving those who love us much too soon. May Serge's soul find the kind of peace he exuded for all of us.

"Serge was a loving brother, friend to everyone, and protector. He was our knight in shining armor of God." --Julia and Serge Mokan

Sergey Grushetskiy was born June 7, 1987, and left us on August, 6, 2021. He is survived by his mother and father, Mariya and Nikolay Grushetskiy; his sister and brother-in-law, Liliya and Julian Yurtuc, and their children, Evelyne, Eric, and Max; his sister and brother-in-law, Julia and Serge Mokan, and their children, Amy, Olivia, and Tommy; his brother and sister-in-law, Slav and Irina Grushetskiy, and their children Innessa and Ally; his aunt and uncle, Irina and Michael Grushetskiy, and family; his aunt, Vera Laba, and family; his uncle, Pavel Grushetskiy, and family; his aunt, Nadia Mokan, and family; his uncle, Steven Grushetskiy, and family; and the many friends who consider him family.