Local Historian, Author to Present His Research into Anastasia Nicholaevna Romanov

by Sharon Rondeau, courtesy John Froebel-Parker

(Jan. 14, 2026) — On March 8 at 2:00 p.m. EST, historian and local Hudson Valley Romanov-family researcher Johannes (John) Froebel-Parker will discuss his book, “Grand Duchess Anastasia: Still a Mystery?” available at Amazon and Histria Books.

The event will take place at the Vedder Research Library, Greene County, at 90 County Highway 42 in Coxsackie, NY 12051.

An announcement in the Hudson “Patch” reads:

The local author (Hudson, NY), J (Johannes) Froebel-Parker will present background on the book GRAND DUCHESS ANASTASIA: STILL A MYSTERY? (histriabooks.com/product/grand-duchess-anastasia) based on 25 years of research. As the lady whom he proposes was Anastasia is buried in an Orthodox monastery in Herkimer County, this story has a regional component as well. Catskill, NY (Greene County) artist, Barbara Korr Green, who created a life size oil portrait of HIH Anastasia Nicholaevna Romanov dressed in regal court dress, will be in attendance and answer questions. The Greene County Historical Society website, where the event will take place, is: gchistory.org/

The announcement is shareable on social media.

Over the years, Froebel-Parker has shared photos and trip notes from his sojourns to the Herkimer County grave of the woman he believes is the final resting place of Anastasia Romanov.

Anastasia was the youngest daughter of Russian Tsar Nicholas II, who along with his family, was assassinated by the Bolsheviks in July 1918. It is Froebel-Parker’s belief Anastasia escaped the family’s captors, possibly with her brother Alexei, and made her way to the United States where she adopted the name Evgenia Smetisko.

Smetisko eventually settled in Newport, RI, and donated to “preserving the legacy of the Russian Empire and of Orthodoxy,” Froebel-Parker wrote on his blog in November.

This past June, a local perfumerie, Press Gurwitz, developed for Froebel-Parker a unique unisex fragrance, “Anastasia,” now sold at www.froebegallery.net and at pressgurwitz.com.