NOTES ON PEOPLE (12/10/00)

NOTES ON PEOPLE

Komichak marks 50 years on radio

PITTSBURGH - Michael Komichak, host of the "Ukrainian Radio Program" on WPIT-AM (730) in the Pittsburgh this year marks the 50th anniversary of his show this year.

Mr. Komichak's program broadcasts Ukrainian news, music, community announcements, birthday wishes and wedding and death notices.

The program has helped to promote many projects, including the establishment of the Ukrainian Nationality Room at the University of Pittsburgh and three chairs of Ukrainian studies at Harvard University.

Mr. Komichak was born in 1919 and raised in McKees Rocks, Pa., where he still lives. He started working in the radio business in 1947 when he became WPIT's radio engineer. He became the host of his show in July 1950 and by 1975 he was the station's manager.

The earliest listeners of "Ukrainian Radio Program" have passed on, but the American-born Ukrainian community as well as recent immigrants from Ukraine still show interest in the program.

"My primary objective over the years has been to nurture the Ukrainian identity of my listeners," Mr. Komichak said. "I try to make my younger-generation listeners proud of their Ukrainian heritage,"

On July 30, this year, Mr. Komichak celebrated his jubilee with 650 listeners on a dinner cruise.

His program airs on Sundays at 1 p.m. In addition, Mr. Komichak also hosts an all-music program, "Sunday Serenade of Ukrainian Music", which airs Sundays at 2:30 p.m. The show can be heard nationwide through the Internet at www.wpitam.com.

Mr. Komichak is a member of Ukrainian National Association Branch 264.

The Rev. Krysalka celebrates jubilee

DEEPSTEP, Ga. - The Rev. Stephen Krysalka on October 8, celebrated his 50 years of ministry with friends and members of his congregation at Smyrna Baptist Church in Deepstep, Ga.

The Rev. Krysalka was born in 1917 in Pittsburgh to immigrant parents. He was raised in an environment where the Catholic and Ukrainian Orthodox Churches played an important role in family life.

In 1941 the U.S. Army sent the Rev. Krysalka to Macon, Ga., for training. There he met his future wife, Juanita Brown, whom he married a year later at the East Side Baptist Church in Macon. The Rev. Krysalka was a member of Company D of the 261st Infantry Regiment of the 65th Division during World War II. He served in Austria, Germany and France.

When he returned to Macon after the war, he was drawn back to the East Side Baptist Church where he began leading music in worship services. A revival service inspired both the Rev. Krysalka and his wife to dedicate their lives to ministry. He was ordained to the gospel ministry on October 8, 1950.

Since then he has served in numerous churches in Georgia and in a church in Rochester, N.Y. In the past 50 years the Rev. Krysalka has performed 452 baptisms and 247 weddings. Although he retired in 1982, he continued to preach and substitute for his colleagues. In 1984 he became a permanent substitute at Smyrna Baptist Church, where he has been preaching for 17 years.

The Krysalkas continue to live in Macon, even though the Rev. Krysalka is a pastor 50 miles away in Deepstep. The Rev. Krysalka celebrated his 83rd birthday this year and claims that he isn't ready to retire again. "As long as my health holds out and I'm able to drive back and forth and they want me, I'll keep preaching," the Rev. Krysalka said.

He and Mrs. Krysalka are known throughout their community as the parents of Stephen Jr., Richard, Surelle and all of Macon. The whole Krysalka family - children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren - are members of UNA Branch 53.

Notes on people is a feature geared toward reporting on the achievements of members of the Ukrainian National Association. All submissions should be concise due to space limitations and must include the person's UNA branch number. Items will be published as soon as possible after their receipt, when space permits.

| Home Page |