Those we have lost

John Aslanov, 70: Avid fisherman ‘rich in life experience’

Murdered by Hamas terrorists at the Zikim Beach on October 7

John Aslanov (Courtesy)
John Aslanov (Courtesy)

John Aslanov, 70, from Ashdod, was murdered by Hamas terrorists in the attack on Zikim Beach on October 7.

John went out early that morning with his brother-in-law Robert Shaulov as well as their friends Yuri and Svetlana Lisovoy.

John, Robert, Yuri and Svetlana were among the 20 people slain by Hamas along the beach that morning, in one of the first places targeted by the terrorists. Five days later, John’s family was informed that he had been killed. A week later, after completing the shiva mourning period, they were told that Robert was also found dead.

John was buried in Ashdod on October 12. He is survived by his wife, Inna, their three children, Sergio, Stas and Shoshi, and several grandchildren.

Born in Russia, John had two older sisters and two younger sisters. He and Inna wed in the city of Pyatigorsk on October 7, 1977 and they had three children. John was an industrial engineer by training.

In the 1990s, they decided to move to Israel, living first for a few years in Ramat Gan before settling in Ashdod. Inna’s brother, Robert – a childhood friend of John’s – decided to move to Israel in 2016 and settle nearby.

His daughter, Shoshi, told the Davar news outlet that “my father really loved nature. As a child he would take me to pick fruits and vegetables, I would bring friends with me. I’d say ‘OK, who wants to come with me today to collect mushrooms in the forest.’ Our shared moments together were the perfect entertainment,” she said, recalling family camping and fishing trips.

“He knew the season of every fruit, when was the right time to harvest pomegranates or clementines, and he would pick in the orchards near the house, organize them in bags and give them out to all the kids.”

Shoshi said her father “was always there for me. A very simple guy, modest, but rich in life experience, knowledge and education. He demanded that we be good to others, find shared dialogue, to know how to find the good in everyone.”

Her father “pushed us to advance in life, to succeed, to go study, not to be average. I never once saw him complain, his motto was that we need to be strong, life is no picnic and we have to be strong.”

Returning to Zikim Beach nine months after his father was killed, John’s son, Sergio, told the Kan public broadcaster that “Dad died in the place he loved most, the sea… I’d give everything just to sit with him for a few minutes, just to show him the fish that I caught. But I’m sure he sees it.”

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