1992: A LOOK BACK: Miscellaneous, but noteworthy (12/27/92)

1992: A LOOK BACK

Miscellaneous, but noteworthy

This section comprises the annual list of all those noteworthy events and people that defy classification under the other headings of this year-end review. Thus, the notables of 1992:

Iosef Zissels and Michael Chlenov accepted the prestigious Liberty Award from the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society. They are co-presidents of the Va'ad, the Confederation of Jewish Communities of the former Soviet Union. The organization, which serves as an umbrella group uniting 400 organizations and communities from 77 cities in the FSU, is dedicated to ensuring the survival of the Jewish identity in the former Soviet Union, received the award in New York City on January 19. Mr. Zissels was arrested in 1978 and in 1984 for dissident activities as a member of the Ukrainian Helsinki Group.
Prof. Gregory Stanton received the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, Illinois chapter, Man of the Year Award from Ukrainian Parliament member, Dr. Stepan Khmara. Prof. Stanton was honored for his work in defense of Dr. Khmara.
The Kiev Polytechnic Institute bestowed honorary doctorates on six individuals from the Ukrainian diaspora for their contributions in helping Ukraine and the KPI. Honored were Prof. Zirka Voronka, Prof. Roman Voronka, Dr. Taras Hunczak, Dr. Karl Zaininger, Prof. Osyp Moroz and Pastor John Shep.
Jack Palance, the 72-year-old Ukrainian American Hollywood star, won his first Oscar, for best supporting actor, on March 30 for his work in "City Slickers." It was the Scranton, Pa., native's third nomination.
Pierre Beregovoy was appointed France's new prime minister on April 2. The 66-year-old part Ukrainian, whose father immigrated from Ukraine, defeated the unpopular Edith Cresson. The prime minister, a high school dropout before he began his climb in French politics, is a leader of the French Socialist Party.
Aleksander Volkov, the Ukrainian astronaut, finally returned from space on March 25, only five months behind schedule. The astronaut, who was scheduled to remain in the space station Mir for six months, stayed for 313 days when a newly freed Khazakhstan demanded that a Kazakh astronaut be part of the team that would replace Mr. Volkov's. No trained Kazakhs were available - hence the stay.
The 1991-1992 school year marked the 50th anniversary of St. Vladimir's College Minor Seminary in Robin, Manitoba. The school was originally established in 1898 by Ukrainian Redemptorists. It moved to Robin in 1942.
The Ukrainian Sister Servants of Mary Immaculate this year marked the centennial of their founding in Zhuzhel, Ukraine. In 1902, they began their work in Canada, where they are currently based.
Contrary to media reports, Radio Liberty did not cease broadcasting in 1992, but actually expanded. It's Ukrainian Service was upgraded on February 14 to the status of a broadcasting department due to a 10 to 15 percent increase in growth and live broadcasts. The only other full-fledged department until now had been the Russian Department.
The U.S. Postal Service on May 2 began routing mail from Ukraine directly to Kiev. Until then, all mail had been processed through Moscow because the individual republics of the former Soviet Union (the Baltic nations excepted) did not have an appropriate postal service in place. Mail delivery to Ukraine improved markedly after the routing change.
Three Ukrainian Americans were honored by the Jewish Foundation for Christian Rescuers/Anti-Defamation League for their heroic actions in saving Jews from Nazi persecution during World War II. Olena Melnyczuk and her brothers, Orest Zahajkewycz and Bohdan Zahajkewycz (posthumously) were awarded the Courage to Care Award on June 14 of this year. In 1944 the Zahajkewyczes hid Adgar and Ada Schefler.
Voice of America, in an unprecedented cooperative effort, on July 15 began broadcasting a one-hour daily program on Ukrainian local network stations. The government-operated radio network broadcasts from Washington as well as from Kiev and includes cable network transmissions.
Nadia Svitlychna was honored on July 29 with the Pro Bono Award of the Poor Richard Club in Horsham, Pa. Since the 1930s, the award has been presented yearly to individuals who have distinguished themselves by their work as writers, community activists, businessmen or public servants. Mr. Svitlychna was honored for her dedication to human rights.
A new Ukrainian television show debuted in Toronto and New York in September. "Kontakt," produced by Yurij Klufas in Toronto and Stephen Kowaliw and Volodymyr Artemshyn in New York, presents newsfeed from Ukraine and diaspora news about Canada and the United States. The show is still going strong.
The Ukrainian National Women's League of America on June 7 celebrated the 25th anniversary of its Scholarship/Students Sponsorship Program. The program reaches out to Ukrainian students in South America and Europe and now is expanding into Romania and Ukraine. Last year the program aided 768 students by sending them stipends totalling $174,057.05 gathered from sponsors in the U.S., Canada, Australia and Brazil.
A Ukrainian cruise ship, the Gruziya, docked in the Montreal harbor in late August to take part in celebrations marking the first anniversary of Ukraine's independence. The ship's symbols were also changed - the tryzub replacing the hammer and sickle. Currently, the liner is offering cruises trom Florida to Belize, Honduras and Cancun.
The Washington Group's sixth annual Leadership Conference took place on October 9-11 in the nation's capital. Continuing to concentrate on stimulating Ukraine-U.S. relations, the conference's theme this year was "Developing a New Democracy: U.S.-Ukraine Relations." However, an undercurrent discussion about the two U.S. presidential nominees buzzed through the weekend as the elections were less than a month away. Penn Kemble, foreign policy advisor to the Clinton/Gore campaign and soon to be chief of the U.S Information Agency, led a slew of speakers that included Ukrainian Ambassador Oleh Bilorus and Carl Gershman, president of the National Endowment for Democracy.
The Rev. Richard J. Mucowski became the first Ukrainian American priest to head a four-year Catholic college when he was inaugurated on October 17 as president of Walsh College in North Canton, Ohio.
Justice Eugene Fedak was appointed regional senior judge for the province of Ontario on September 1. Justice Fedak was called to the Ontario Bar in 1963 and was made a Queen's Counsel in 1975.
Ukrainian American Walter Dudycz won a third four-year term to the Illinois State Senate on November 3, defeating his Democratic opponent, James McGing, with a 51.7 percent majority.
Jews and Ukrainians met at a forum in Jerusalem from September 1 to 7. The purpose was to foster mutual understanding and discuss issues that have marked their relations in the past. The 82-member delegation included parliamentarians, civic leaders, sports champions, musicians, scholars and farmers.
Three Ukrainian sailing ships, the Tovarysh, the Ikar and the Maestro, glided into New York Harbor on July 2. They were the first ever ships of a free Ukraine to anchor on U.S. shores. The ships arrived to take part in U.S. celebrations commemorating the 500th anniversary of Columbus' landing in the America.
Ukrainian MiGs raced about North America this year. Two aircraft arrived at Canadian Forces Base Namao in Edmonton in May for a series of airshows across the continent, the first ever on North American soil. By August the blue/yellow supersonic jets with the trident on their tails had invaded U.S. soil and were on display at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base near Columbus, Ohio. In late August they were in California. where a Ukrainian American, Jurij Styranka, took the opportunity offered and flew aboard one.

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