OBITUARIES (05/05/96)

OBITUARIES

Ivan Teslia, geographer/demographer

TORONTO - Dr. Ivan Teslia, noted geographer and demographer, died here on April 10. He was 93.

Born on August 19, 1902, in Nastasiv, Ternopil county, in Galicia, Dr. Teslia obtained his Ph.D. from Lviv University in 1939, where he served as a research associate in the Institute of Geophysics and Meteorology in 1932-1939, and published a basic text on Ukrainian geography in 1938.

During the second world war, Dr. Teslia served as one of the heads of the Krakow-based Ukrainian Central Committee's Edu-cation Department emphasizing the revival of local Ukrainian schools in Galicia, and the provision of vocational courses.

Dr. Teslia also lectured on climatology and meteorology at the Ukrainian Free University in Prague and, after the Soviet occupation of the city in 1945, in Munich. He emigrated to Canada in 1948.

In 1949, Dr. Teslia acted as one of the co-founders of the Shevchenko Scientific Society's Canadian chapter, and served as its president in the 1960s.

Dr. Teslia became a specialist in the demography of the Ukrainian population in Canada, printing a number of monographs on the subject, including "The Ukrainian Population in Canada: Settlement and Demographic Characteristics" (1957), "Ukrainske Naselennia Kanady" (The Ukrainian Population of Canada, 1968), "The Ukrainian Canadians in 1971" (1976). He also assisted in the compilation of the official Canadian census of 1971.

As well, he was co-author of "Istorychnyi Atlas Ukrainy" (A Historical Atlas of Ukraine, 1980).

Funeral services were conducted at St. Demetrius Ukrainian Catholic Church on April 12, with burial at the Park Lawn Cemetery. Dr. Teslia is survived by his wife, Yulia; son, Yuriy, with his wife and children; son, Bohdan, and daughter, Maria.

The Rev. William Wojciechowski, Orthodox pastor in Woonsocket

WOONSOCKET, R.I. - The Rev. William M. Wojciechowski, pastor of St. Michael Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Woonsocket for the past six years, died on March 4 in Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston of cancer. He was 42 years old.

An active member of the local community, the Rev. Wojciechowski belonged to the Connecting for Children and Families organization, the Rhode Island State Council for the Arts, the Rhode Island Fellowship of Orthodox Churches and the State Council of Churches. A conservatory trained musician, he played the French horn and viola, performing with the Cincinnati Civic Orchestra, the Akron University Orchestra and the Rhode Island College Symphony Orchestra.

Born to Stanley and Donna Ann Wojciechowski in Springfield, Ohio, on September 9, 1953, the Rev. Wojciec-howski studied at Mount St. Mary Seminary of Cincinnati, Ss. Cyril and Methodius Seminary of Pittsburgh, Duns Scotus College Seminary of Southfield, Mich., and the University of Akron in Ohio, earning a master of divinity degree.

He was ordained a priest on May 17, 1981, in Parma, Ohio, and served parishes in Cleveland, Detroit and Bakerton, Pa., before arriving in Woonsocket in 1990. He was active as a pastoral counselor and religious educator, and served as assistant director of the Eastern Orthodox Foundation in Indiana, Pa. The Rev. Wojciechowski also served as a Navy chaplain, attaining the rank of lieutenant.

He is survived by his wife, Sue Ellen; sons, Nikolai, Kyprian and Joseph; and a sister, Kathleen Baringer of Canton, Ohio.

A memorial service officiated by Archbishop Antony of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of America took place at St. Michael Church on March 6. A funeral service at Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in Belle Vernon, Pa., and internment at Belle Vernon Cemetery followed on March 9.

Correction

In last week's obituary of Dokia Humenna, the writer's age was incorrectly given as 88. She was 92.

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