May 8, 1937 – January 5, 2026 Isaak Pekelny was born on May 8, 1937, in Kiev, Ukraine, the only child of Hiam Pekelny and Maria Pekelnaya. Throughout his life, Isaak was surrounded by dear friends who remained a constant source of joy, laughter, and companionship. He proudly served in the military before embarking on a long and accomplished career designing shipping vessels. An exceptional draftsman with a steady hand and keen eye, Isaak took great pride in his work and craftsmanship. Above all else, his greatest pride and joy was his only child, Anna (Pekelnaya) Zaydenberg, whom he adored deeply. In 1992, Isaak immigrated to the United States with his family and began a new chapter of life in Squirrel Hill. He quickly became a pillar of the community, known for his warmth, integrity, and love of time spent with friends—especially around a card table. Isaak was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Vera Pekelnaya. Later in life, he was fortunate to find companionship again with his wonderful partner, Mila. A lover of travel and lifelong learning, Isaak found special joy in teaching his great-grandsons how to play chess, passing down not only the game, but patience, strategy, and connection. He is survived by his daughter, Anna Zaydenberg; his son-in-law, Lev Zaydenberg; his granddaughter, Marsha Simonds; Marsha’s partner, Jonathan Goodrum; and his cherished great-grandsons, Lucas Simonds, Jackson Simonds, and Ari Goodrum. May his memory be a blessing. The family will receive friends and family: Tuesday, January 6, 2025 at Homewood Cemetery Chapel, 1599 S. Dallas Ave, Pittsburgh PA 15217 1pm til time of Service. Flowers may be delivered to: The Homewood Cemetery Chapel 1599 S. Dallas Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15217