Tatiana Stepanova Gardner of Palm Beach and Brookline passed away peacefully at her home in Palm Beach on Monday evening, Dec 21st 2009, with her husband of more than 62 years by her side. She was 85. Tatiana, daughter of Ivan and Alexandra Stepanoff, was predeceased by her beloved son G. Peabody Gardner Jr. She leaves behind her husband, George P. Gardner, her daughters Alexandra Gardner and Tatiana Smith. She also leaves her seven grandchildren (Gardner, Papanicolaou, Smith, McDonald & Perkin surnames), five great-grandchildren, and her daughter-in-law, Mrs. G Peabody Gardner Jr, and son-in-law, Earl E. T. Smith, Jr.
Tania was born in a Red Cross refugee camp in Marseilles, France to White Russian Cossacks who fled their country on the cusp of the Russian Revolution. From those humble beginnings, she rose to become a Prima Ballerina for one of the famed Ballets Russes. An only child, she was raised in the community of Russian exiles in and around Paris, and spent the vast majority of her early life focusing on her dance career. She was originally introduced to ballet as a remedy for illness at a young age, whereupon her innate talent and work ethic were immediately recognized. She studied originally with Olga Preobrajenska in Paris. In April 1939, she won the Queen Elisabeth Prize at Belgium’s first International Concours, launching her career. With the prize money she won, the family was able to buy their first home in Les Essarts-le-Roi, south west of Paris. She was then selected to join Col. de Basil’s Original Ballet Russe in 1939, initiating her life as a professional dancer at the age of 15. She rose to become one of its star ballerinas during the War years as the company toured exhaustively throughout Latin America and Australia. She performed every major role including Swan Lake, La Sylphide, The Sleeping Beauty and Firebird. In 1946, she retired and married her ardent and long time suitor, George Peabody Gardner.
Tania and George’s was a legendary courtship. George first saw Tania dance in The Sleeping Beauty in Mexico City, where he was on holiday after the war, having concluded his service as Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy. George and Tania were
subsequently introduced after that first show, sparking their connection. And for months thereafter, he traveled to visit her and to see her dance as she continued to tour professionally throughout the Americas. Initially, there were obstacles: a language barrier (at first, they both communicated in modest Spanish); the demands of her career; and the ever-watchful presence of her mother, Alexandra, who toured as an employee of the ballet company on account of her daughter’s youth. Eventually, though, their love flourished and they soon decided to settle in Boston, MA and raise a family, which became the abiding passion of Tania’s life.
After retirement, Tania continued to stay connected to the ballet world by maintaining a private teaching studio, serving as a charter member of George Balanchine’s School of American Ballet's National Advisory Council where she remained an active member for many years, chairing the Women's Committee for the Wang Center, and through her longtime volunteer service to the Boston Ballet. Her other passions included gardening and spending time with family and friends. She could often be found in her greenhouses or gardens, frequently sharing her love for Cattleya, Vanda and Dendrobium orchids with her mother, Alexandra, or any of her children or grand-children. She grew annuals all year long from English seed. Her favorites were cineraria, cyclamen and snapdragons. And her mimosa and camellia trees were prolific. Her efforts entertaining were similarly regarded. She was fluent in four languages, and enjoyed a wide circle of friends of numerous nationalities. What she most enjoyed, though, were large family gatherings over summer weekends and holidays at which she was always the most graceful and elegant hostess. “Mimi”, “Mommy” or “Hearty” will sorely be missed by her family, whom she thoroughly spoiled with her warmth, her generosity of spirit and her inexhaustible reserves of love.
Her family extends its deepest thanks to Doctors Stephanie Moore, Chauncey Crandal, Denis Murphy and Curtis Prout for the care they provided and for keeping her with us so long.
A January burial service will be private and, in lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be considered to any of the following:
i) Russian Orthodox Church of the Holy Epiphany 963 South St Roslindale, MA 02131-2309 (617) 327-3663
ii) The Boston Ballet attn: Office of Development 19 Clarendon St Boston MA 02116.
iii) Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Monastery Route 167 City Road 3 Jordanville, NY 13361 (315)858-0940 http://www.jordanville.org
iv) The MGH Heart Center attn: Heart Failure Program c/o Elizabeth Drolet 165 Cambridge Street suite 600 Boston, MA. 02114