OBITUARY: Dr. Wasyl Lencyk, 90, scholar noted for service to Ukrainian Catholic Church (12/22/02)

OBITUARY

Dr. Wasyl Lencyk, 90, scholar noted for service to Ukrainian Catholic Church

STAMFORD, Conn. - Dr. Wasyl Lencyk, scholar and educator, whose life was marked by singular service to the Ukrainian Catholic Church in the United States, died on November 10 at the age of 90.

Born November 27, 1912, in Mazurivka, Zhydachiv raion, he studied at the Teachers' College and the Theological Academy in Lviv, earning a licentiate in sacred theology in 1939. Majoring in East European history, he earned doctorates at the Ukrainian Free University in Munich (1947) and at Fordham University (1961).

Before emigrating to the United States, Dr. Lencyk was vice-principal and lecturer at Kholm Technical School, and a lecturer at the Theological Academy and at the Ukrainian Free University.

In the United States he was professor of history at St. Basil College (1954-2000) and at Seton Hall University (1963-1972). In 1963 he was appointed a professor of Church and world history at the Ukrainian Catholic University in Rome.

A lecturer and prolific author, his most recent work, "Notable Personages of the Ukrainian Church: Metropolitan Andrew Sheptytsky and Patriarch Josyf Slipyj," was published this year.

Dr. Lencyk served as secretary of the Ukrainian Red Cross in Germany, and worked with the U.S. Refugee Program (1954-1958) and the Ukrainian Catholic Committee for Refugees (1959-1962). Since 1964, he was curator of the Ukrainian Museum and Library in Stamford.

He was a member of many scholarly societies, most notably the Shevchenko Scientific Society, where he was on the board of directors and, since 1978, secretary general of its supreme council. He also belonged to Delta Tau Kappa, the International Social Science Honor Society.

Dr. Lencyk was awarded the papal medal Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice in 1991 for his service to the Ukrainian Catholic Church.

Dr. Lencyk was buried from the chapel of St. Basil College. The Very Rev. Ihor Midzak, vicar general, was the principal celebrant, representing Bishop Basil H. Losten. Co-celebrants at the funeral liturgy were colleagues and former students Msgr. Peter Skrincosky, Msgr. Leon Mosko, Msgr. John Terlecky, the Very Rev. Ivan Kaszczak, the Very Rev. Philip Weiner, Archpriest Roman Mirchuk, the Rev. Marian Struc and the Rev. Mark Hirniak.

The Rev. Kaszczak delivered the homily and the Rev. Mosko paid tribute to Dr. Lencyk who had dedicated his life to the Ukrainian Church and the education of seminarians.

Dr. Lencyk is survived by his wife, Lydia nee Szuchewycz, and children Alexandra, George and Andrew of Stamford, and Ann Pawliczko of Monroe, N.Y.

Interment was at Holy Spirit Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery in Hamptonburgh, N.Y.

Lencyk led "a life of singular service"

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