Walter Kwas of Soyuzivka dead at 80 (01/05/97)

Walter Kwas of Soyuzivka dead at 80

KERHONKSON, N.Y. - Walter Kwas, who was widely known in the Ukrainian community as manager of Soyuzivka, the Ukrainian National Association's upstate New York resort - having served in that capacity for 28 years - died on Saturday, December 28, 1996, following a brief illness. He was 80 years old.

Mr. Kwas was active in numerous Ukranian community groups, and served as a supreme advisor of the Ukrainian National Association for many years until he chose to retire from that post in 1994.

He was born in Bozhtysha, Zolochiv county of western Ukraine, on March 17, 1916, and worked in the Ukrainian cooperative movement until the outbreak of World War II. After emigrating to the United States he immediately became involved in Ukrainian community life, first and foremost the Ukrainian National Association.

Mr. Kwas founded UNA Branch 88 in 1957 and served as its president from its inception until his death; he also held the post of branch secretary from 1957 to 1968. He was elected to the UNA Supreme Assembly, serving three four-year terms as a supreme advisor, and was active in the Troy-Albany UNA District Committee. At the UNA Convention in 1994 Mr. Kwas urged delegates to vote for Stephanie Hawryluk, a fellow officer of UNA Branch 88, as his successor on the Assembly.

Mr. Kwas became manager of Soyuzivka in 1955 and served in that post until 1983. He was the heart and soul of Soyuzivka, as well as a surrogate parent to the hundreds of Ukrainian youths who worked at the resort during summer seasons. He transformed the Catskill mountain estate into a little piece of Ukraine, complete with Hutsul-style architectural embellishments and furnishings reminiscent of the Carpathian Mountains. He promoted youth camps and workshops at Soyuzivka, and he turned the estate into a showcase for Ukrainian performers and artists - both established talents and up-and-coming novices and amateurs.

Mr. Kwas was active also in local politics. He was elected to the Ulster County Legislature and was voted chairman of the local Republican Committee. He also served as president of the Lions Club of Kerhonkson.

After the death of their only son in Ukraine, Mr. Kwas' wife, Magdalyna, emigrated to the United States in 1973, settling in Kerhonkson with her husband.

A parastas service was to be offered on Friday, January 3. The funeral was to take place the next day, with liturgy scheduled for 10 a.m. at Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church in Kerhonkson, and burial at the Pine Bush Cemetery, also in Kerhonkson.

Surviving are Mr. Kwas' wife and relatives in the United States, Canada and Ukraine. Memorial donations may be made to Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church, the Chornobyl children's fund of the Ukrainian National Women's League of America, The Ukrainian Museum and Plast in Ukraine.

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