EDITORIAL

Recalling a colleague

March 4 marked a year since the passing into eternity of the dean of Ukrainian journalists, Ivan Kedryn-Rudnytsky. He died at the age of 98, in the midst of a life still full of journalistic endeavor. We all had hoped we would be celebrating his 100th birthday on April 22 of this year.

During his long and active life, Ivan Kedryn-Rudnytsky maintained a freshness of both his journalistic pen and his mind. He devoted 76 years to journalism - 40 of those years he worked for the Ukrainian-language daily newspaper Svoboda (our sister publication), most recently as its editorial writer, even though, officially, he had retired in 1973.

Even as editor emeritus, he came to the newspaper's offices every day, and Svoboda became his second home (particularly after the death of his beloved wife). When he brought his daily editorial to the Svoboda offices, he would always take time to learn about the latest political developments and community news, for he had never lost interest in all facets of our life.

Ivan Kedryn-Rudnytsky was a publicist without peer, a political analyst and author of several books, most notably his memoirs, "Life - Events - People" (Zhyttia - Podiyi - Liudy, 1976), and a collection of his articles, "Within the Range of Interest" (U Mezhakh Zatsikavlennia, 1986). In the latter work, he had published his "Farewell" (Slovo na Proshchannia), which seemed to dot the "i" on his existence and his work as a community/political activist and publicist.

Concurrently with his journalistic work, Mr. Kedryn participated in our political and community life. He was an active member and later an honorary member of the Shevchenko Scientific Society. He served for many years as president of the Ukrainian Journalists' Association, and more recently as its honorary president.

Mr. Kedryn had an especially warm and direct relationship with young Ukrainian journalists, and he truly enjoyed helping them get involved in the Ukrainian press and encouraging them in their work. Such was Ivan Kedryn-Rudnytsky's bond to all the members of The Ukrainian Weekly's editorial staff to the very end of his hard-working life.

- Guest editorial by Olha Kuzmowycz of Svoboda (translated by Roma Hadzewycz)

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, March 10, 1996, No. 10, Vol. LXIV

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