OBITUARY: Zenon Babiuk, businessman who always remembered his Ukrainian roots (08/25/96)

OBITUARY: Zenon Babiuk, businessman who always remembered his Ukrainian roots

MAPLEWOOD, N.J. - New Jersey businessman Zenon Babiuk died on July 18 at his home here after a short but spirited fight with cancer. Born in Ozering, Ukraine, on May 13, 1932, Mr. Babiuk was an accomplished businessman who dedicated his life to his family, his country and Ukraine, the land of his birth.

At the conclusion of World War II, Mr. Babiuk was in the American zone of Germany, where he lived for a period of time in a refugee camp. From 1951 to 1956, while in Germany, Mr. Babiuk served as an administrator for the Civilian Command, U.S. Army, and with the Central Intelligence Agency. He earned his university degree from the University of Munich's School of Political Science.

In 1956, Mr. Babiuk and his family immigrated to the United States. From 1958 to 1971, he first was an assistant office manager, later a purchasing agent and then a vice-president and general manager of The Champion Envelope Manufacturing Corp. in Brooklyn, N.Y. In 1972, Mr. Babiuk purchased Champion as its principal owner and served as president until 1977 when he sold the company.

From 1978 to 1984, Mr. Babiuk was vice-president and general manager of Transco Co., a division of the Avery Corp. In 1985, he became vice-president and general manager of Regal Envelope Manufacturing Corp., which he purchased in 1989; he served as president and general manager until he sold the company in 1991.

Mr. Babiuk was well-known and highly regarded among his peers in the envelope manufacturing industry. He served for many years as a member of the board of directors of the Envelope Manufacturers Association.

Since arriving in the U.S. Mr. Babiuk was an active participant in the Ukrainian community. He served on the board of directors of the Ukrainian Institute of America and The Harvard University Ukrainian Studies Fund. He was president of the Foundation for an Independent and Democratic Ukraine. In 1994, Mr. Babiuk was instrumental in organizing a speaking tour of the U.S. for the former president of Ukraine, Leonid Kravchuk.

Mr. Babiuk's activities in Ukraine increased after Ukraine declared its independence and the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. As an executive in Robinson Lake/Ukraine, Mr. Babiuk organized and established its office in Kyiv, where he was instrumental in introducing important U.S. business leaders and their firms to members of the Ukrainian government and its business community.

During this time, Mr. Babiuk played a critical role in the denuclearization of Ukraine under the Nunn-Lugar program. At the time of his death, he was actively developing business opportunities for ZMR Inc.

Mr. Babiuk is survived by his wife of 44 years, Oxanna; four children, George, Roxolana, Andrew and Tamara; his father, Theodore; and brother, Myron. Msgr. Volodymyr Bazylewski conducted funeral services for Mr. Babiuk on July 22 at St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Church in South Bound Brook, N.J.

In lieu of sympathy considerations, the Babiuk family has requested that donations to the Ukrainian Institute of America or the University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy be made in memory of Mr. Babiuk.