FACES AND PLACES: A life lived long and well (05/23/04)

FACES AND PLACES

by Myron B. Kuropas

A life lived long and well

Anna Wasylowsky was an outstanding woman in her day, literally one of a rare, dying breed.

She belonged to an outstanding group of Ukrainian American women who in their prime were visible in all aspects of Ukrainian community life - family, church, culture, fraternal affairs, politics, youth activities.

An activist in the mold of such former community icons as Mary Dushnyck, Anastasia Volker and Pauline Riznyk who had it all - brains, beauty, charm, energy, determination and an American education - Anna Wasylowsky passed away on April 3, eight days before her 94th birthday.

In her youth, she was part of the planning committee for the Ukrainian Pavilion erected at Chicago's 1932-1934 Century of Progress World's Fair.

Back in 1950, when the Ukrainian National Association was enrolling 3,000 new members a year, Anna was elected a UNA supreme advisor. She later became part of the UNA search committee which discovered and recommended the purchase of a resort in the Catskill Mountains, a site that is now our own beloved Soyuzivka.

A long-time resident of Chicago, Anna was active at St. Nicholas Parish, where she served for a time as president of the Blessed Virgin Sodality, as well as president of the St. Nicholas PTA. She also spent 15 years managing and narrating a radio program for WEDC titled "Colorful Ukraine."

A lifelong Republican, she was secretary of the Ukrainian Republican Association of Chicago for 10 years and was appointed a secretary at the 1944 GOP National Convention in Chicago.

Soon after President Harry S. Truman signed the 1948 Displaced Persons Act, Anna was invited by the State Department to join Chicago attorney Roman Smook in Vienna to assist in the repatriation process of Ukrainians fleeing the evil empire. She declined out of concern for her two young children, Geraldine and Walter, then still completing their education. When the first refugees began to arrive in Chicago - many were temporarily housed at the UNA Home on Western Avenue - Anna joined dozens of UNA members who found jobs and more permanent housing for hundreds of America's latest arrivals.

Anna was married to Philip Wasylowsky who, prior to his death in 1989, was a living legend in Ukrainian political circles in Chicago. A walking encyclopedia of Ukrainian immigration history, Philip had once been a "sotnyk" in the Ukrainian Hetman Organization and, following his disillusionment with the Hetmantsi, a founding member of Branch 2 of the Organization for the Rebirth of Ukraine (known by its Ukrainian acronym as ODVU).

Back in the days when the UNA in Chicago still sponsored annual picnics on Higgins Road, the Wasylowskys were always helping with the arrangements. One year Geraldine, who had matured into quite an attractive young lady, was crowned "Miss UNA" at one of the picnics.

Mrs. Wasylowsky was also active in the Ukrainian National Women's League of America (Soyuz Ukrainok), serving for a time as the UNWLA delegate to the Illinois Federal Women's League. She helped organize the Ukraine section of the annual "Christmas Around the World Pageant" at Chicago's famed Museum of Science and Industry, and presented lectures on Ukrainian culture at various local high schools and colleges.

In 1993, Anna Wasylowsky was honored by the City of Chicago with a bronze plaque and a granite rock for her work as one of Chicago's outstanding women. Originally displayed on State Street, the granite monument can now be viewed at the Hull House Museum on the Chicago campus of the University of Illinois.

Following Philip's retirement, the Wasylowskys moved to Munster, Ind., where they became active in the St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic parish.

Both of Anna's children received higher degrees from top universities, Geraldine a B.S. and M.A. from Northwestern University, Walter a coveted M.B.A. from the University of Chicago.

In addition to two successful children, Anna Wasylowsky took pride in her two grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

What a life! Vichna yiyi pamiat!

Myron Kuropas' e-mail address is: mbkuropas@compuserve.com.

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