Lydia Amelia Babaoglu Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Lydia Amelia Babaoglu (nee Zajcew) was born in Gera, Germany on June 3, 1945, and passed away on June 19, 2022, in Memphis, TN due to complications from Covid. Her parents, Ivan and Eudokia (nee Lachewicz) Zajcew, and her brother, Alexander immigrated to the United States in 1950 settling in Newark, NJ where Lydia attended both public and catholic grade schools, graduating from St. Vincent’s Academy in 1963. Lydia’s first love was ballet. She trained for 12 years, dancing with the Garden State Ballet under founder Fred Danieli. She then went on to study and to dance with the New York City Ballet under founder George Balanchine. When not dancing, Lydia was a contracted model with Ford Modeling agency in Manhattan. While attending Rutgers University, she worked for the Newark Star Ledger as the youngest employee to write tv reviews and select entertainment columns for the paper. It was at Rutgers that she met the love of her life, Rehim Babaoglu, and they married in 1968. They both graduated with B.A. degrees in Russian language and literature. The family moved to Memphis to begin their lives together and to raise their children. Lydia served as a parent volunteer for the Memphis Ballet Company for many years, performing on stage and as costume seamstress for the company. She retired as Administrative Assistant to the Chancellors of Shelby County Court and spent her time enjoying her family, pets, and tended to her African violets, orchids, and other exotic plants. She is survived by her husband Rehim Babaoglu, son R. Christopher Babaoglu, daughter Lara Reynolds and her husband Michael Reynolds. The family would like to thank the nurses and doctors at Methodist Germantown ICU for their care and compassion. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to New Ballet Ensemble and School, 2157 York Ave, Memphis, TN 38104.

Lydia Amelia Babaoglu

June 3, 1945 - June 19, 2022