Browsing: Obituaries

PARSIPPANY, N.J. – Emilian (Omelan) Twardowsky passed peacefully on October 19 in his home with his family by his side. He was 92. Twardowsky is survived by his wife of 61 years, Anna, his daughter, Odarka (Daria), his son, Yaroslaw (Jerry), and relatives in Ukraine.
Born May 28, 1927, in the village of Nahuyevychi in the Drohobych region of the Lviv Oblast in Ukraine, his emigration journey took him from Ukraine to Austria, then to England and thereafter to Canada. He ultimately settled in the U.S. in Newark, N.J., where he married Anna Czolij in 1958. He also lived in Union and Parsippany, N.J.

Despite all the national disasters of the 20th century, Ukrainian intellectual life has never been interrupted. On the contrary, it has always yielded more and more new examples of excellence in extremely unfavorable circumstances, not only under German Nazi and Russian Communist occupation regimes, but also throughout modern Ukrainian history.
The life path of Dmytro Shtohryn, a professor of literature, bibliographer and public figure, was representative of the history of his motherland. He was born on November 9, 1923, in village of Zvyniach in the Chortkiv region of Ternopil Oblast, into the patriotic family of Mykhailo and Kateryna (a descendant of the Figol family) Shtohryn, who were in charge of a Ukrainian Insurgent Army “kryivka” (a secret hiding place) during World War II.

Dmytro Shtohryn may have retired as a professor at Illinois in 1995, but his commitment to the university and the field of Ukrainian studies remained as vibrant and meaningful as the Ukrainian paintings hanging on the walls of his home.
Prof. Shtohryn (who recently passed away) and his wife, Eustachia, lived in Champaign since 1960, when he turned down a professional librarianship position at Harvard to join Laurence Miller, professor of library administration and the first head of the Slavic and East European Library, and the late Ralph Fisher, professor of history and the first director of the Russian and East European Center (later renamed the Russian, East European, and Eurasian Center (REEEC), in their quest to teach and expand the Slavic and East European collections at Illinois. The native of Ukraine is credited with establishing Ukrainian studies as a discipline at Illinois.

WASHINGTON – The Wilson Center and Kennan Institute family deeply mourn the passing of Ambassador William Green Miller (1931-2019), a statesman of the very highest merit, a scholar and poet, and a humanitarian.
His early career included postings in Iran and in the Secretary of State’s office in Washington. His first posting in Iran was to the American Consulate in Isfahan. He became fascinated with Iranian culture and history. He and his wife, Suzanne, came to know and form friendships with many of the leading families in Isfahan, not only those in local government, but also people in many walks of life.
In a city famous for its handicrafts and fine work in metals, silver, and woods, they were frequent visitors to various shops collecting local handicrafts. Mr. Miller commissioned one of the city’s finest metalworkers to create a replica of a centuries-old astrolabe. He became an advocate for projects intended to preserve and enhance Isfahan’s ancient water resources.

Mark von Hagen, one of the leading U.S. historians working on Ukrainian themes, past president of the International Association for Ukrainian Studies (2002–2005), and past president of the American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies (now ASEEES, 2010), died on September 15. He was 65.
With the death of Prof. von Hagen, the academic community, and Ukrainian scholarship in particular, has lost a distinguished historian, a brilliant intellectual, and a leading figure in the furthering of Ukrainian studies in the U.S. and abroad.

CHICAGO – Roman Michael Zavadovych, 78, of Chicago passed away at home, after a long illness, on August 1. He was 78. He lived a life dedicated to his family and friends, and was a voracious proponent of community service.
The son of the late Hanna and the well-known Ukrainian poet and writer Roman Zavadovych, Sr., he was born on May 31, 1941, in Zolochiv, Podillia, Ukraine. He was the husband of 50 years to Natalia (Horalewska) and loving father to daughter Ruslana.

EDMONTON-TORONTO – Dr. Manoly Robert Lupul died in Calgary, Alberta, on July 24, three weeks shy of his 92nd birthday. His death was announced on August 1 by the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies (CIUS), which is based in Edmonton and Toronto.

FOX CHASE, Pa. – Sister Mary Bernarda died at the Basilian monastery in Fox Chase, Pa., on July 17 at the age of 96. Sister had suffered a stroke on July 4 and was treated at Holy Redeemer Hospital. On July 8, she returned to the Basilian Motherhouse in Fox Chase. She departed this earth surrounded by the love, support and care of sisters at the Motherhouse, friends and colleagues with whom she had shared a home, a spiritual life, work, meals and leisure time for many years.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Well-known builder, entrepreneur and philanthropist Alex Woskob of State College, Pa., died peacefully at home in his sleep at the age of 97 in the company of his beloved wife, Helen, on May 27.

He lived a rich and storied life, much of which is described in detail in his book, “Memoirs of My Life” (WUS Publishers, 2004). His wife, Helen, also relates many fascinating stories of her own life’s tribulations, joys and life together with Mr. Woskob in her own memoir, “Freedom and Beyond: A Ukrainian Woman’s Journey to a New Life in America” (Piramida Publishers, 2015).

PARSIPPANY, N.J. – Gloria V. Paschen (nee Podola), the Ukrainian National Association’s supreme vice-presidentess in 1982-1994, died on March 28. She was 92. 

CHICAGO – The Very Rev. Myron Wasyl Panchuk, Ph.D., an associate pastor of St. Joseph the Betrothed Ukrainian Catholic Church in Chicago, passed away on March 9. He was 64.

TORONTO – Prominent Ukrainian political activist Omelan Kowal died on January 19 in Lviv.