Friends and colleagues recall Walter Kwas as the heart and soul of Soyuzivka (02/09/97)

Friends and colleagues recall Walter Kwas as the heart and soul of Soyuzivka

JERSEY CITY, N.J. - "Walter Kwas has entered into eternity - and with him a whole epoch of the famous Soyuzivka."

That was both the headline for a news report about funeral services for the former longtime manager of the Ukrainian National Association's upstate New York resort, and a simple statement of fact.

As reported by Svoboda editorial staff member Halyna Kolessa, representatives of the Ukrainian community, of various generations, came from many areas in the United States and Canada to pay their last respects to Walter Kwas, the legendary manager of Soyuzivka during the years 1955-1983. They were joined by local residents, Ukrainians and non-Ukrainians alike.

Present were his colleagues from Soyuzivka, the Ukrainian National Association, the Ulster County Legislature, the Lions' Club and the United Way.

The mourners knew Mr. Kwas as "a Ukrainian patriot, a UNA activist and leader, and a man with a beautiful soul," Ms. Kolessa wrote.

She added: "Everyone knew him ... his name was integrally connected to the largest Ukrainian resort - a resort unparalleled by any other ethnic group in the diaspora - the famous Soyuzivka. The resort was his life; and the youths who worked there - his children. Devoting himself completely and fully to Soyuzivka, Mr. Kwas, in his deep longing for his native homeland, created his own Ukraine in the Catskill Mountains of New York state - amid mountains that reminded him of his Carpathians."

During his 28 years running Soyuzivka, popularly referred to as "a little piece of Ukraine," Mr. Kwas was the resort's soul as well as its wise manager and its gracious host. He was simultaneously a father figure to the hundreds of youths and young adults who worked at Soyuzivka during the summer season.

On January 3, friends and colleagues of Mr. Kwas attended a panakhyda, or requiem service. The next day more than 200 persons attended a funeral liturgy offered at Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church, the construction of which was initiated by Mr. Kwas. Burial followed at Pine Bush Cemetery.

Mr. Kwas was eulogized during the memorial services by many community activists, among them Dr. Roman Baranowsky, who spoke on behalf of the Ukrainian community; as well as UNA President Ulana Diachuk; UNA Vice-President Nestor Olesnycky, who acted as master of ceremonies at the memorial repast, or tryzna, held after the funeral; Daniel Slobodian, his former co-manager at Soyuzivka; Roman Wasylyk, a former employee at the resort; and Vasyl Nykyforuk.

Memorial donations were made in Mr. Kwas' honor to organizations and causes that were particularly close to his heart: Plast (the youth organization had recognized Mr. Kwas for all his contributions with the honorary title "Dobrodiy Plastu" - Benefactor of Plast), Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church, the Children of Chornobyl Fund of the Ukrainian National Women's League of America; and The Ukrainian Museum of New York.

Perhaps the most fitting farewell came from a lone trembita player at the conclusion of services at Mr. Kwas' grave. The melancholy sound of the Hutsul instrument, played by Mr. Wasylyk, rolled and reverberated through the hills and valleys of Mr. Kwas' beloved Catskills.

Walter Kwas, a Hutsul at heart, surely must have appreciated that special moment.

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Former employees of Soyuzivka who would like to participate in establishing a memorial to Walter Kwas at the UNA resort may send donations and suggestions to UNA Treasurer Alexander Blahitka at: Ukrainian National Association, 30 Montgomery St., Jersey City, NJ 07302; fax, (201) 451-2093.

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