Philadelphia community pays tribute to the late Dr. Alexander B. Chernyk (12/30/01)

Philadelphia community pays tribute to the late Dr. Alexander B. Chernyk

by Vera M. Andryczyk

PHILADELPHIA - The Ukrainian American community of Greater Philadelphia recently paid tribute to the late Dr. Alexander B. Chernyk, physician and surgeon, distinguished philanthropist dedicated to the Ukrainian cause, and co-founder and first president of the Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center (UECC), with a special program devoted to his memory.

The event consisted of reminiscences by friends, an artistic segment, the unveiling of a special memorial plaque and the dedication of the Alexander B. Chernyk Gallery at the UECC. The September 29 occasion also marked the official opening of the center's current cultural season. The center, 25 organizations and over eighty individuals sponsored the event.

UECC President Patricia Sawchak offered welcoming remarks, asked the audience to observe a minute of silence in memory of the victims of the September 11 attack on the United States and introduced the evening's master of ceremonies, Dr. Albert Kipa, who, along with former Congressman Charles Dougherty and Theophil Staruch, reflected on the life and work of the late honoree.

Dr. Kipa offered a brief overview, in both Ukrainian and English, of Dr. Chernyk's biography, including his distinguished professional career as a physician, surgeon, medical administrator, educator and author, as well as his prominent role as a community and civic leader.

"Dr. Alexander Bohdan Chernyk, whose first and middle names signify 'defender of men' and 'gift of God,' respectively, was a man of talent, vision, and selfless dedication to his people and profession. His many contributions toward the enhancement of his people's quality of life - health-wise, educationally, culturally, socially, economically - in this country and in Ukraine, have earned him our eternal gratitude and a permanent place in our hearts," noted Dr. Kipa.

Former Rep. Dougherty expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to participate in honoring "a dear and trusted friend who is deeply missed ... [a] truly unique and wonderful human being ... a man's man, ... strong, courageous, forthright, loving and confident." He went on to highlight Dr. Chernyk's leadership role "so essential to bringing together the Ukrainian American community, to the founding of the UECC and to the recognition and acceptance of Ukraine and Ukrainian Americans within the wider American community."

Mr. Dougherty concluded his remarks with Helen Lowrie Marshall's poem "The Lone Star-Maker," which ends with the words: "He was a lone star maker/ But that One Star held high/ Broke through the clouded hearts of men/ And lit the whole dark sky."

Theophil Staruch paid homage to his departed friend in Ukrainian rhyming couplets, reviewing the sources of his inspirations and reminiscing about houses that people built for various purposes, then focusing on "the house that Alex built" for the people he loved and the community he strove to unify and edify. "A tribute to him now hangs on the wall/ But memory of him graces the hearts of us all," intoned Mr. Staruch.

The evening's Moment Musicale featured the young soprano Stefania Dovhan and pianist Volodymyr Vynnytsky. Accompanied by Mr. Vynnytsky, Ms. Dovhan, gold medalist of the 2000 Rosa Ponselle Young Classical Singers Competition, opened the program with spirited renditions of Mykola Lysenko's "Ni, Mamo, Ne Mozhna" and the popular Ukrainian folksong "Handzia." Mr. Vynnytsky performed Myroslav Skoryk's "Melodia" with technical precision and refined touch, and Rachmaninoff's "Étude-Tableau" with clarity and sensitivity. Ms. Dovhan then returned to sing Sansonetta's aria from Rossini's "La Promessa" and Mozart's concert aria "Chio mi scordi di te?" in fine voice and with dramatic presence. The audience rewarded both artists with rounds of exuberant applause.

The unveiling of the memorial plaque, designed and prepared under the artistic guidance of Anatol Prasicky and Taras Lewyckyj, and the dedication of the Alexander B. Chernyk Gallery followed, led by the UECC President, Ms. Sawchak, and Organizing Committee Chair Marijka Tatunchak.

A cocktail reception concluded the event, which was attended by numerous distinguished guests and community leaders as well as the Chernyk family, Dr. Zenia and sons Ihor and Oleh.

Honored guests of the evening included Minister-Counselor of the Embassy of Ukraine Volodymyr Yatsenkivsky and his wife, Olha; Consul General of Ukraine in Washington Valentyn Nalyvaichenko and his spouse, Olena; Consul of Ukraine in New York Dr. Natalia Martynenko and her husband, Yuriy Rubashov; Pennsylvania Sen. Stewart Greenleaf; Len Grossman and Michael Slotznick with their wives, Sally and Vivian, respectively, of the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Jewish Committee; and Dr. Leonid Rudnytzky, rector of the Ukrainian Free University in Munich.

At the conclusion of the evening, Dr. Zenia Chernyk thanked everyone present for their acknowledgement of her late husband's legacy and especially Dr. Oleksa Bilaniuk, president of the Ukrainian Academy of Arts and Sciences in the U.S. (UVAN), for having been the first to publicly suggest the dedication carried out earlier in the evening.

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