OBITUARY: Myroslaw Prokop, writer-editor and nationalist leader, 90 (03/14/04)

OBITUARY

Myroslaw Prokop, writer-editor and nationalist leader, 90

NEW YORK - Myroslaw Prokop, a longstanding member of the Ukrainian Academy of Arts and Sciences (known its Ukrainian acronym as UVAN), passed away on December 7, 2003.

He was born in Peremyshyl in May 1913, where he also completed his gymnasium (secondary school) studies in 1930. He then studied at the Law School of Lviv University during 1930-1933.

Because of his membership in the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN), he was arrested in October 1933 and sentenced to a seven year prison term. He was released in 1937 under the terms of an amnesty.

He resumed his legal studies in Lviv (1937-1938). After this, he took up government policy studies, first in Berlin (1939-1941) and then at the Ukrainian Free University in Munich (1947-1949). He received a doctor of law degree from the UFU on July 4, 1949.

Between 1941 and 1944 Mr. Prokop took part in the anti-Nazi resistance in Ukraine. In 1942 he became a member of OUN's leadership. In 1944 he joined the presidium of the Ukrainian Supreme Liberation Council (UHUR) and eventually the council's representation abroad.

Mr. Prokop spent many years as an activist and writer-publicist. In Lviv during 1937-1938, he edited the journal Studentsky Visnyk (Student News). In 1939-1941 he edited the Ukrainska Presova Sluzhba (Ukrainian Press Service). From 1942 to 1944 he edited Ideya i Chyn (Idea and Deed), the official newspaper of the OUN.

From 1957 to 1973 he edited the monthly journal Digest of the Soviet Ukrainian Press. In 1967 he worked as the co-editor of the Suchasnist journal, and in 1973 he became the head of the Prolog Research Institute.

Dr. Prokop was a true Ukrainian patriot whose compassion and comradeship was respected by all. He leaves behind his wife and soul-mate of 57 years, Luba, and two daughters, Chrystyna and Lida. Burial services were held on December 12, 2003, at St. Andrew's Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery in South Bound Brook, N.J. Donations in memory of Dr. Prokop have been requested for: the Patriarchal Sobor in Kyiv, Litopys UPA or The Ukrainian Museum in New York.

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