Colleagues and co-workers bid farewell to Svoboda editor-in-chief (06/28/98)

Colleagues and co-workers bid farewell to Svoboda editor-in-chief

PARSIPPANY, N.J. - Colleagues bid farewell to Svoboda Editor-in-Chief Zenon Snylyk on Thursday, June 18, who retired effective June 19 after more than 36 years of service to publications of the Ukrainian National Association.

Present at the informal gathering were Mr. Snylyk's fellow editors at the Ukrainian-language daily newspaper, members of The Ukrainian Weekly editorial and production staffs, the Svoboda print shop and administration.

Brief remarks were delivered by Olha Kuzmowycz, speaking on behalf of the Svoboda staff, and Weekly Editor-in-Chief Roma Hadzewycz.

Mrs. Kuzmowycz, the member of the Svoboda's current editorial staff who worked the longest with Mr. Snylyk, spoke of the many interesting news events that had occurred during the last 18 years when Mr. Snylyk was at the helm. She also noted how the group of editors who worked at Svoboda had changed through the years, and expressed hope that Mr. Snylyk would stay in touch with his colleagues at the paper, which as of July 1 will be published as a weekly.

Ms. Hadzewycz underlined that Mr. Snylyk had begun his career at the two UNA publications at The Weekly. She thanked him for many years of cooperation and support and assured him that, despite the fact that these are difficult times of change and that no one knows what tomorrow may bring, all will remember him fondly. She expressed hope that he, too, would have pleasant memories of his years at Svoboda and The Ukrainian Weekly.

The Weekly presented Mr. Snylyk with a "Collector's Issue" front page of the paper, featuring photos of the editor from his days at The Weekly and Svoboda, as well as his days on the soccer field and tennis court.

A farewell gift from all the employees of the UNA's publications was presented to Mr. Snylyk by Halyna Kolessa of the Svoboda editorial staff.

Mr. Snylyk thanked all for attending the farewell gathering and commented that it had taken place in a manner that was most appropriate: within the circle of people who work on both UNA newspapers. He recalled various memories from the past, of events and people connected to Svoboda and The Weekly, adding that his years at the Svoboda Publishing House were evenly split between both newspapers (he served on the editorial staffs of each for 18 years and two months) and also included work on the two-volume Ukraine: A Concise Encyclopedia.

In conclusion, all raised their glasses of champagne in a toast to the outgoing editor-in-chief.

Mr. Snylyk also bid farewell to Svoboda readers and his co-workers in the Saturday, June 20, issue of Svoboda.

"This is the last time that my name appears as editor-in-chief of Svoboda in the masthead atop this page," he wrote. "My retirement is the result of the decision of the 34th Convention of the UNA to change Svoboda to a weekly. Therefore, I do not have the unpleasant duty of writing an epitaph on the gravestone of the Svoboda daily. However, I am obligated to express my thanks to all of you for your support and loyalty during my 36 years and four months at the Svoboda Publishing House."

"I extend my sincere thanks for your loyalty, dedication and cooperation, for your suggestions, advice, support and readiness to work together in the defense and popularization of Ukrainianism," he concluded.

Mrs. Kuzmowycz, writing in her regular Saturday column in that same issue of Svoboda, noted the passing of an era and bid farewell to both the editor-in-chief and the Svoboda daily.

Referring to the editorial staff - comprising journalists who differed in both their ages and assignments - Mrs. Kuzmowycz noted that all the Svoboda editors cared deeply about their newspaper, which celebrated its centennial in 1993. "They did not foresee ... that merely five years later would come so many unexpected and unwanted changes. But life, as they say, is always 'full of misunderstandings and quiet sadness.' "

"Changes are taking place, colleagues are leaving, and that well-known daily guest at countless Ukrainian homes will no longer be arriving...," she wrote.