Inna Huskova Besser, an immigrant from Ukraine who worked as an auditor for the National Endowment for Democracy, died Sept. 21 after a seven-year battle with cancer.
The Pikesville resident, who was known as “Innachka” by family and friends, was 36.
“It is with heavy heart I am sharing the untimely passing of our beloved Inna Besser,” wrote her friend Rita Pach, a Reisterstown resident who organized a GoFundMe page in Besser’s memory. “She has fought hard with a terrible illness and unfortunately lost her fight … She leaves behind a 9-year-old son and an elderly mother. Inna’s family is left with many medical bills and financial hardships. The family appreciates your support during this difficult time. Funds collected will be used for funeral costs and medical bills.”
A native of Odessa, Baltimore’s sister city in Ukraine, Besser obtained a master’s degree in finance from the Odessa National Economic University. After moving to the United States in 2014, she earned an associate of arts degree in accounting from the Community College of Baltimore County in 2019 and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Towson University earlier this year.
During her career, she worked for the American College Health Association, Hart Industries and, most recently, the National Endowment for Democracy in Washington, D.C., which promotes democratic strategies and policies in other countries.
Besser was also a strong supporter of organizations and endeavors committed to helping Ukrainians during the Russian invasion.
“She was a loving mother and mentor to her precious son, always said yes, and was kind to everybody,” Besser’s family wrote in a tribute to her on the website of Sol Levinson & Bros. funeral home. “She will be dearly missed.”
On the same page, her friend Cesar Fuentes wrote, “Inna gave me words of support when my mom died of cancer. Reading her words made me know that I was not alone. Today I tell her son that he is not alone. Inna became a star who will always be taking care of him from the sky.”
Besser’s former husband, Vladimir, described her as “a true fighter. She went through countless chemo treatments and many other procedures to continue living. Each time she would receive a disappointing result, she would come to the doctors and say, ‘LET’S DO MORE.’ Even when there was nothing more left to do, she was hopeful. While going through the terrible disease she was raising her son, who is attending fourth grade at Beth Tfiloh school, and taking care of her elderly mother.”
Said Pach: “She was truly one of a kind.”
Inna Besser is survived by her son, Alexander Besser; her former husband, Vladimir Besser; and her mother, Valentyna Huskova. She was predeceased by her father, Vladimir Huskov.
Funeral services will be held at Sol Levinson’s Chapel, 8900 Reisterstown Rd. in Pikesville, on Friday, Sept. 23, at 1 p.m. Interment will be at Baltimore Hebrew Congregation Cemetery in Reisterstown.
“She was always kind to everyone around her and would help without asking,” said Pach. “Gone too soon but never forgotten, our Innachka.”
For information about the GoFundMe page in Besser’s memory, click here.
Weekend Backpacks is partnering with Heritage | MileOne Autogroup for the largest corporate volunteer engagement and donation initiative in the organization's history.
Pikesville residents David and Wendy Hefter recently joined Jewish motorcyclists from around the world to raise money for victims of the Oct. 7th terrorist attacks in Israel.
Attorney and Barry Levinson confidante Donald Saiontz left his mark on the world, writes Michael Olesker.
The Baltimore resident taught at Johns Hopkins for five decades.