Giga was a life long resident, community leader, sportsman, and cultural leader in Howell Township, and spent his whole life helping people by doing the "right thing', and through these efforts, not only helped people in Howell, but touched many people through out the world. He was Founder and CEO of Howell Glass in 1968, Co-founder of the Farmingdale-Howell Soccer Club, in 1969, and Founder of the Pinelander's Soccer Club, in 1970. Under his coaching guidance, the Pinelander's team were NJ state champions in 1970, 1971, and 1973, and his junior team was the 1972 US Eastern Regional Champions. Giga was a member of the Board of Directors of the Freehold Kiwanis Club, Founder, and President, in 1973, of the United Republican club of Howell Township, President of the Kalmyk Society in the USA, Coordinated the first visit of the Dalai Lama to the USA, and to the Lamaist, Buddhist community of Howell in 1979. He was awarded the "Sports Award for Contributions to Soccer in the NJ Shore Area" by the Jackson Knights of Columbus, in 1983. He was the Founder and President of the World Mongolian Association, in 1983, worked with Monmouth County clerks in 1972, and again in 1983, to naturalize over 350 new citizens. He was nominated for "Man of the Year' by the Howell Chamber of Commerce, in 1980. He was the moving force behind the Sister Cities Program, between Howell and Hsin Tien City, Taiwan, ROC, in 1989. He orchestrated the post Cold War visit by the USA Kalmyk community, to The Kalmyk Republic, Russia, in 1990, bridging decades of separation and reconnecting centuries old ties through Youth, Artistic and Cultural exchanges. He was nominated for "Citizen of the Year' By the Help our Kids foundation, in 1990, nominated for "Man of the Year' By Howell Township, in 1990, awarded the Asian American Heritage Council award for "Outstanding Leadership", in 1998. He was an eight year member of the Howell Township Planning board, and chairman from 1991-1992. He coordinated Relief Aid for the Pediatric Ward in Kalmykia, in 1992, to help with the outbreak of pediatric AIDS by enlisting Doctors, Nurses, and Technicians from the Shore Area, to assist in setting up donated equipment and distribution of donated medicines. He organized, and led another relief mission to Kalmykia and Buryiatia, in 1994 to provide badly needed pediatric tuberculosis medicine following outbreaks in those countries. He was recognized by the AIDS Foundation for Children at the World AIDS Day, in 2002 for his work in helping children with AIDS. Giga was an amiable, highly regarded community, and cultural leader, family man, and cherished friend of many people in Howell and worldwide. He was especially passionate about helping local and international youth, to realize their potential and in this capacity. He inspired many kids to achieve their full potential. My father aka "Mr. No Problem' will surely be missed.
He is survived by his wife, Edmaska Andreyev; his sister, Meda Polchinoff; his children, Erdne, and his wife Nina, Naran and his wife, Josephine, Sara, and Peter and his wife, Jennifer; his grandchildren, Sandsha, Lea, Katie, Alex, Elena, Natalie and Jason; and a friend to many.
Asbury Park Press 8/31/08