Oleg Vladimirovitch Rodomar Vukotitch, OBE

Oleg Vladimirovitch Rodomar Vukotitch, OBE (1900-1961)

and

Louise Anslie Rodomar (born McLachlan) (1898-1981)

Vukotitch may be spelt Vukotich, Vukotić.

Vladimirovitch may be spelt Vladimirovich.

McLachlan may be spelt MacLaclahn, Maclachlan, MacLaughlan, Maclaughlan, McLachlin.

Early life of Oleg Vladimirovitch

In 1900, Oleg Vladimirovitch Rodomar Vukotitch was born in Vichnev (also spelt Vishniv), which is in Western Ukraine, near the border with Poland. It is in the region called “Volyn”, and the place-name of his birth-village suggests cherries.

Family historical context

Oleg Vladimirovitch was a descendant of Petar Vukotitch (Vukotić), a "voivod" (a nobleman, a military general) of Montenegro (1826-1907). Petar Vukotić was one of the greatest landowners in Montenegro. Oleg was also a close relative of Queen Milena (Petrović-Njegoš, born Vukotić, 1847-1923) of Montenegro (daughter of Petar Vukotić). The family had moved north into Russian territory for economic advancement. This economic advancement was associated also with distinguished military service. Petar Vukotić was granted lands originally by the Tsar in the Tver region of Euopean (western) Russia. Other distinguished descendants (including his grandparents) were similarly granted lands in more southerly regions.

Oleg's own grandparents had discovered the pleasures of Nice, France, to which they moved in their senior years, and where they remained. His father, Vladimir, began his imperial service in the navy, but switched to the Life-Guards in Saint Petersburg. His parents had an official Saint Petersburg residence, but the family preferred the countryside.

Birth of Oleg Vladimirovitch, 1900

On 23 September, 1900, Oleg Vladimirovitch Vukotitch, the second son of Vladimir Vukotitch and Katherine Davydov-Apalat, was born during a visit of his mother to her parents at the rural estate of his mother’s parents in Vichnev (Vishnev).

As was frequently done by noble families who could afford it, the 6 children in this family were raised by a “nanny”, and they were educated by various tutors. It was they who ensured the ability of the children to speak and read in French. In the context of the family and the tutors, Oleg Vladimiovtch and his his siblings were raised in the bosom of the Russian Orthodox Church, and they were formed as faithful Orthodox Christians.

Oleg’s mother’s family had many estates in western Ukraine, and principally near Bălţi (Bieltsi), Bessarabia (now Moldova), not far from Chişinău (Kishinev).

His father was primarily occupied in raising trotting-horses, and he reposed early, at the age of 47. His mother was an energetic and indefatigable woman who had, from the beginning, been given complete responsibility for the management of the estates (over 3,000 acres). She was a deeply faithful and practicing Christian, and this was passed on to her son. He was not always conscious of this deep and abiding faith in his early youth ; but when he had time to reflect on the events, he would recognise quickly its presence and activity in his life.

Bereavement, 1907

In 1907, Oleg’s father Vladimir suddenly reposed from typhus. Vladimir and his brother Vasili had been visiting friends, but they had eaten something contaminated. Vasili had recovered, but Vladimir had been mis-diagnosed and given the wrong treatment at first, and thus he succumbed.

His wife, Katherine, was 39 years old at the time.

Cadet school in Odessa

Oleg was sent to the prestigious Cadet School in Odessa, where his elder brother Michael preceded him. Oleg, himself, wrote that from birth he was raised (as other cadets) to observe tradition, to serve his country, to love the Tsar and his family and to uphold the Holy Orthodox Church.

Oleg was a romantic person ; and during his adolescence in school, he was very idealistic and passionate. He was also mischievous, which was and is common enough at that time of life.

World War I, 1914-1918

In 1916, Oleg Vladimirovitch determined that he would run away to serve in the war.

After a complicated series of personal encounters with important persons, and a refreshing of his connexion with his Serbian/Montenegran roots, he managed finally to accomplish his escape from school and to join the combatants in Romania along the Danube River (Dunai). The headquarters at the time was the village of Radomir in the Dioşti Commune. He later took a variant of the name of this village to be a part of his family name.

Here, and south of the Danube, he engaged in some serious fighting between the Russian/Romanian and the Bulgarian armies, and he was accepted into the Hussars. During these battles, he encountered death very vividly.

He was twice injured. The second injury occurred during the Battle of Karakiery. Before this battle, he and 2 others had been searching a woodland before the others would enter it, and they surprised and captured 8 Bulgarian officers. This resulted in his being awarded the Cross of Saint George for conspicuous bravery in battle (at the age of 16 !). He was already in the rank of corporal.

After this exploit, he returned to Odessa, where he encountered senior officers who were determined to punish him for his disobedience.

In his autobiographical writing, he admitted that he was as “light-headed and irresponsible as ever, as though I had not seen the very hell on earth, or suffered the agonies thereof”.

He was expelled from the Odessa Cadet School, and he was banished to a lower class of cadet school in Simbirsk, a remote town on the Volga River, which was also the birth-place of both V Lenin and A Kerensky. This town would later be renamed Ulianovsk as a memorial to the true family name of V Lenin.

Revolutions, 1917 ; Civil War, 1917-1922

By this time, it was 1917, and he was 17 years old. He pursued his studies seriously, and he accompanied them with his usual lively and creative behaviour, as ever accompanied by pranks. However, this was the time of the beginning of revolution, and the abdication of the Tsar. Then followed increasing turmoil and social disintegration, which finally reached Simbirsk (Ulyanovsk) as well.

By the end of that year, Oleg was given permission to graduate early, which he did, and he began the arduous and dangerous journey home to Bessarabia (Moldova). This took more than a month (because of the great disruption and disorder that followed the February and October 1917 revolutions), and he was almost starved by the time he managed to reach Bălţi. He narrowly escaped death once again as he travelled. His guardian-angel was active. His mother received him home, and she carefully nursed him to recovery.

By early 1918, it was clear to Oleg how betrayed had been the Russian Imperial government by the western so-called alliesin one or another manner. He determined to return to Simbirsk in order to try to “do his part” in helping to counter the revolution.

First, however, he tried to ensure the safety of his mother. Their aged butler took her to live on a small farm, which was truly a safe place (since Bessarabia had been by then taken into Romania).

In the spring, he returned, “into the teeth of a roaring gale”, as he wrote. It was soon that he found himself in prison. He and some others had saved the school’s military standard and colours from being burnt by the Soviets by taking them and burying them in secret. When an innocent student was condemned to be shot, the students confessed their culpability in order to save him. At the ensuing “trial”, a series of miraculous exchanges saved them from being executed. Being left with very few choices for survival, and in order to spare his faithful friends, Oleg enlisted in the Red Army under the command of a Moldavian who asked no questions.

However, further complicating events had him fleeing, along with a Serbian unit which had arrived. The utter confusion of those days made everything uncertain at all times. Nevertheless, when reading the words of Oleg as he tells about his life, it can easily be seen that he kept a sense of humour throughout all the trials. This is evident in his choice of words (revealing his good command of English), his use of idioms as he describes the horrors that accompanied the chaos of 1918, and his choice of chapter-titles. For instance, when he is at the mercy of the very disorganised and violent Red Administration, he found himself travelling with others hither and thither in Siberia on trains that were sent out and then called back. There was almost no food. One train sat for a long time beside the Volga River.

Eventually, Oleg became impatient. He put on a Serbian uniform, and he sneaked across the Volga River to Simbirsk by night in order to try to find food. This is the reason for his entitling one chapter “Volga Cruise”. However, within a few days he and the trainload of non-Russian military were being sent up and down the Volga between Simbirsk, Kazan and Nizhny-Novgorod as orders changed.

As battle-fronts ebbed and flowed, the White Movement did what it could to counter the Bolsheviks. Oleg was chosen to smuggle some documents into Moscow, which he succeeded in doing, but again nearly at the cost of his life.

Repeatedly in his memoir, he admits that he was subject to being “foolhardy” at times ; but clearly, his guardian angel and the prayers of others kept him alive. During his 18th year of life, the struggles continued through the White capture of Kazan, which did not last long. Always dependent on the whims of external political factors, the movement did not have the needed consistent support from abroad.

It was at this time that Oleg was badly wounded. He survived the railway trip of well over a month during the retreat across Siberia because of his friends’ attention. All were transported in box-cars (goods wagons) and he was kept hidden behind bales of hay and straw.

Vladivostok

Upon arrival at Vladivostok, he was taken to an American Military Hospital, where they noted that, besides the life-threatening pneumonia from which he suffered, he had been wounded more than 30 times. At first, he was not expected to survive, and a Canadian Roman Catholic Chaplain who was present there went to him and prayed. He did recover, but the recovery was slow, and it took very many weeks. During this time, the political mess and confusion in Siberia enabled the Bolsheviks to progress.

One mistake made by foreigners was that made by many Americans, who had naively and mistakenly made a parallel between their own revolution and that of the Bolsheviks, whom they therefore supported. This was but one reason why Oleg leaned on his Serbian ancestry and his Serbian friends, and why he concealed the Russian part of his personal history. It was at this time, too, that he became known by the surname “Rodomar”.

Nevertheless, it was Americans who were the catalyst of his recovery, and also of his escape from the revolution. Before this, however, there were dramatic and painful events in Siberia in 1918-1922 ; the Japanese army invaded ; there was an explosion of ammunition in Vladivostok. About these details, Oleg himself writes, and these events are described in the writings of others, elsewhere.

Hope and escape

During the Japanese invasion, he was badly beaten and returned to hospital. It was then that he met Douglass B Williams, an American from an old and prestigious southern USA family. This young man befriended him. Having a similarly vivacious personality, he was able to encourage Oleg’s rapid recovery. However, hope of evacuation with the Serbs was a closed avenue.

He remained with the Americans and began to work casually with the American army, of which he became a sort of “mascot”. He was involved in yet more fighting, but he was also introduced to American-style socialising, which included vaudeville performances, the technique of which he soon learnt. Then, as the time came for the repatriation of the US Army, Oleg’s friend Douglass was able, through his family connections, to arrange for a special visa so that Oleg would be able to enter and remain in the USA. When he landed in San Francisco, California, he was thoroughly interviewed, since he was the first refugee from Siberia to land on the west coast. Then followed a transcontinental railway journey.

Escape to USA ; business

Oleg soon found himself in Clarksburg, West Virginia, USA, in the bosom of an American family of a class and way of life similar to that in which he had grown up. The contrast between the last several years of his life and what he now encountered was very great indeed. That contrast produced a deep emotional response from Oleg, who felt deep sorrow for his mother, his family, his homeland.

The Williams family had a large hardware business in which Oleg became involved for a time. With Douglass and his brother, he travelled widely both in the USA and in Canada. Then he went to try his resources in New York City. Here, he encountered a multitude of difficulties ; but here also, he found the beginning of a renewed connection with the Russian Orthodox Church, primarily at the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas.

He met many influential persons, but he had a near disaster with one. He had substantial musical talents, and a voice well-suited to opera (rather than the popular stage). Eventually, Oleg was able to get employment in 1920 with the Standard Oil Company, which soon offered an opportunity to travel and work in Constantinople (Istanbul). During the crossing, he met Benjamino Gigli, who encouraged him further concerning his singing.

During the crossing, also, he met the Canadian Ian McLachlan, who was en route to Smyrna (Izmir), Turkey.

When he landed in Constantinople, Oleg found many of his former cadet-school-mates living there in very poor conditions in refugee camps. He immediately set out to help them by sharing his income with them. He was able, there, to do very well for his employer, and to increase the business opportunities considerably. At the same time, he encountered a Persian prince whom he had also met in the Odessa cadet-school.

Soon, Oleg was again transferred, this time to Smyrna (Izmir), and here he made contact with the McLachlan family. The father was a Presbyterian minister who offered students a higher university education.

While there, he also met Louise, the sister of his friend Ian. He immediately fell in love. They had agreed on marriage ; but Oleg was again transferred, now to Thessalonika, Greece. This proved to be providential. The Greco-Turkish War soon resulted in the fall of Smyrna and the expulsion of all Greeks and foreigners, especially Christians. The McLachlan family was rescued, and they were received in Thessalonika.

However, at this time, there was a search for a successor to the throne of Montenegro, and Oleg was a candidate. His intended marriage (to a person who was both a commoner and a non-Orthodox) disqualified him, and he did not regret it.

Marriage, 1922

Therefore, in 1922, Oleg Vladimirovitch Rodomar Vukotitch was married to Louise Anslie McLachlan. The marriage took place in 3 stages.

First, there was the Russian Orthodox marriage in the morning. Second, in the afternoon, there was a civil ceremony. Third, in the evening, there was a Presbyterian wedding. This all included a certain amount of culture-shock.

Louise Anslie McLachlan had been born on 23 June, 1898, in Chatham, Kent, Ontario, the child (one of seven) of Duncan McLachlan and his wife Jane Elder. This was a United Empire Loyalist family. Their home was in Chatham, Ontario. Her siblings were : June E McLachlan, Jean C McLachlan (1894), Kenneth Duncan McLachlan (1902), Malcolm Douglas McLachlan (1905), Donald Alexander McLachlan (1906), Ruth Isabel McLachlan (1909).

Illness

It was soon seen that, since his new wife was now suffering from a recurrence of malaria, she had to return to Canada for her health. She and Oleg, therefore, left Thessalonika. Of course, Oleg had had to leave his work with Standard Oil.

Travel to Canada, 1924

On 5 May, 1924, they sailed to Canada via Cherbourg, France, and New York City. They continued on to southern Ontario, to Chatham, where Louise's family lived. There, in surroundings that reminded him much of Clarksburg, West Virginia, he began his new life with fresh joy and peace, in the bosom of nurturing Christian faith and love.

Soon, children began to arrive, which would total 4.

New start, life in Windsor, then in Montréal, 1924

At first, Oleg found some work in a menial agricultural job for little money, but he soon found more lucrative work with the Ford Motor Company. First, he worked in Detroit, Michigan, and he soon was transferred to Windsor, Ontario, in 1925.

In 1928, Oleg was transferred to Montréal, Québec, where he worked at the introduction of the Ford Model A.

In 1930, Oleg became Assistant Regional Manager of the Chrysler Corporation for Eastern Canada. He and his family continued to live in Montréal and he worked for Chrysler until 1942. At that time, Oleg was loaned to the Canadian Federal Government as Rationing Administrator. It was during these many years in Montréal that he was deeply involved in the life of the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, in diocesan life, and also in the administration of the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church of North America (later "The Orthodox Church in America"). He served for a time as parish council president, and he became the choir-director of the cathedral in Montréal. He was much loved. His daughter Katherine wrote that thereafter he was truly happy only when in this city.

Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral, Montréal

With others, he established a family "datcha" at Lac Labelle, Québec, in the Laurentian Mountains north of Montréal. The family vacationed there, even after moving to Toronto, Ontario. In Labelle, the Troubetzkoy family had "pioneered" the possibility of establishing homes near the lake.

The following reflection expresses his personality and the love felt for him in Montréal :

 Oleg Vladimirovich Rodomar was not only a director of our choir for a number of years, but for 
 me he was the heart and soul of our church community.  With his fierce enthusiasms and intimate 
 knowledge of Church history and Church affairs, he always seemed bigger than life – a sort of 
 Boris Godounov, but with a tenor voice and a kind heart.  He was passionately involved in all 
 aspects of Church life from local to North American.  He was also well known to the Montreal 
 Community as a successful business leader, in time becoming president of Philips Industries in 
 Toronto after his wartime position as head of Canada’s ration administration.  In 1945 he was 
 named an Officer of the British Empire for his war work.  His move to Toronto after the war was 
 a severe loss to our parish.   
 (by Olga Lawes Melikoff)

Move to Toronto, 1945

His move to Toronto after 1945 as President of Philips Industries did not change his enthusiastic participation in the life of the Church on all levels, even with his great business responsibilities. Although he lived in York, north of Toronto, he travelled into central Toronto to attend and participate in services and meetings.

Oleg Vladimirovitch was an active lecturer during his many visits to other parts of the diocese. For instance, in 1950, he travelled to Winnipeg, Manitoba, for meetings, and he gave several lectures. He visited Holy Trinity Cathedral at that time. In the photo, there are many of the post-war youth. He was a very affable and understanding leader, a good example of a faithful Orthodox Christian.

Oleg V Rodomar-Vukotitch and Holy Trinity Church young people, 1950

Of course, Oleg Rodomar returned frequently to Montréal, and to Labelle, particularly during the summer.

Oleg Vladmimirovitch, 1954 (lower right), with Bishop Nikon at Saint Sergius Chapel, Labelle, Québec

Oleg Vladimirovitch with Father Alexander Schmemann and Bishop Nikon (de Grève) at Labelle

At Christ the Saviour Cathedral, he served as choir-director, parish-council president, and representative to the Diocesan Council of the Archdiocese of Canada and to the Metropolitan Council of the “Metropolia”. As his daughter wrote, he was an “organiser for many allied relief organisations ; and, in particular, bringing thousands of displaced persons to Canada from camps in Europe, through the auspices of the ‘Canadian Tolstoy Foundation’”.

Although his work in helping immigrants did not in any way involve her, he was in Toronto during the time when the Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna was resident near there. He was in Toronto also at the time during which Bishop Nikon (de Grève) was the Bishop of Toronto. He was a close collaborator with the Mitred Archpriest John Diachina over very many years.

Christ the Saviour Cathedral, Toronto (during Oleg's time)

Besides having been decorated for his work during the war by King George VI, he was decorated also by the governments of Greece and Yugoslavia for his post-war relief efforts.

Repose of Oleg V R Vukotitch, 1961

Oleg Vladimirovitch Rodomar Vukotitch continued working, “at full throttle” until his repose from a sudden heart-attack on Monday, 30 January, 1961. He was 63 years old.

Following the repose of Oleg Vladimirovitch, a Panikhida (Memorial Service) was offered at the John R Morris Funeral Chapel in Toronto on Tuesday evening, 31 January, 1961.

On Wednesday morning, 1 February, 1961, at 10:00 a.m., at Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Toronto, a Panikhida (Memorial Service) was offered by the Mitred Archpriest John Diachina.

On Wednesday evening, 1 February, 1961, at 8:00 p.m., at at Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Toronto, a Panikhida (Memorial Service) was offered by the Mitred Archpriest John Diachina.

On Thursday, 2 February, 1961, at 10:00 a.m., the Funeral Services for the Burial of a Lay-person were served by the Mitred Archpriest John Diachina and others at Christ the Saviour Cathedral.

Following the completion of the funeral services, the body of Oleg Vladimirovitch Rodomar Vukotitch was interred at the York Cemetery, Toronto.

Repose of Louise A Rodomar (born McLachlan), 1981

On 2 September, 1981, Louise A Rodomar (born McLachlan) fell asleep in the Lord at the Toronto Western Hospital.

There was a private family service in the A W Miles Chapel of the Humphrey Funeral Home (1403, Bayview Avenue).

On Tuesday, 8 September, a Memorial Service was offered for her at Rosedale United Church (159, Roxborough Drive).

Following the completion of the funeral services, the body of Louise A Rodomar (born McLachlan) was interred at the York Cemetery, Toronto.

Louise was survived by her children Douglas, Katherine, Basil, and Natalie (and their spouses and children) ; by her sister Mrs. W A Proctor ; by her brothers M D McLachlan and D McLachlan ; by 12 grandchildren, and 1 great-granddaughter.

York Cemetery, Toronto

Reflections

This man’s contributions to an important period in Canadian Orthodox Church life seem largely to have been forgotten. Although this is not an unusual occurrence amongst those who are serious Christians who do all for the sake of Christ and not for the sake of self, it is helpful for those who can come to know him to take heart from the manner in which he lived his Christian life. He experienced ups and downs, ebbs and flows, much sorrow, and much joy. Always, he lived under the Lord’s protection. When he forgot, he repented.

A "starosta" of similar devotion (but of quite different personality) arose in Toronto less than 20 years after the repose of Oleg Vladimirovitch in the person of Alexander Ivanovitch Milochenko.

Because of his significant labours during World War II, Oleg V Rodomar Vukotitch became an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).

Award of the Order of the British Empire

References

Breithaupt, Katherine Rodomar, “Nothing by Half” (Toronto : Bramaco, 1978). ASIN : B0025AA7YM. (A biography of Oleg Vladimirovitch Rodomar Vukotich, compiled and edited by Katherine Rodomar Breithaupt)

Additional information :

Archdiocese of Canada listing for the Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral Russian Orthodox Sobor, Montréal, Québec

Archdiocese of Canada listing for Christ the Saviour Russian Orthodox Sobor, Toronto, Ontario

Archdiocese of Canada listing for Saint Seraphim of Sarov Russian Orthodox Church, Rawdon, Québec

Archdiocese of Canada listing for the Chapel of Saint Sergius of Radonezh, Labelle, Québec

Archdiocese of Canada web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about the Archdiocese of Canada

Orthodox Church in America (OCA) listing for Saints Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Sobor

Orthododox Church in America (OCA) listing for Christ the Saviour Russian Orthodox Sobor

Orthodox Church in America web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about The Orthodox Church in America

Orthodoxwiki article about the Church of Russia