OBITUARY: Andrew Keybida, 89, community leader, former UNA advisor (07/16/06)

OBITUARY: Andrew Keybida, 89, community leader, former UNA advisor

MAPLEWOOD, N.J. - Andrew Keybida, a leading Ukrainian community activist in New Jersey and a former supreme advisor of the Ukrainian National Association, died here on July 5. He was 89.

Mr. Keybida was a UNA advisor for 16 years and secretary of UNA Branch 322 for over 35 years.

He retired in 1987 as vice-president and co-owner of Eastern Commodities Co. of Manasquan, N.J.

He served for five years in the U.S. Army, retiring with the rank of captain. Mr. Keybida was in the Asiatic-Pacific theater on Guadalcanal for two years. In 2001 he was awarded the New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal.

On June 3, 1984, Pope John Paul II bestowed the papal distinction of Knight of St. Gregory the Great on Mr. Keybida in recognition of his dedicated and unselfish service to his parish and the Ukrainian community.

Mr. Keybida was the recipient of the prestigious James Gyuries Humanitarian Award given by the N.J. State Catholic War Veterans State Department, in recognition of his performance in the field of human welfare for 10 years. He received the coveted "For God" award from the Essex County Catholic War Veterans.

He was a trustee of St. John's Ukrainian Catholic Church for 35 years; chairman of the school, church and gymnasium building funds; president and member of the Holy Name Society; member of St. John's Catholic War Veterans; and national officer and member of the Ukrainian American Veterans Post 17.

He was a member of the Maplewood Senior Citizens' Housing Advisory Committee; member of the Maplewood Republican Party and trustee of the Durand-Hadden House and Garden Association of Maplewood. He was a member of the South Mountain District board of directors of the Boy Scouts of America and served on many other committees and fund-raising efforts in Maplewood. He was the recipient of the 1993 Maple Leaf Award sponsored by the Maplewood Civic Association in recognition of his volunteer service to the community.

He was a member of the board of directors of the Trident Federal Savings and Loan Association; president of the New Jersey Fraternal Congress; president of the Ukrainian American Republican Committee of New Jersey; member of the Essex County Republican Advisory Board; member of the 15th District Republican Committeeman in Maplewood; and served as campaign manager of Republican candidates on the local, state and national levels. He was the Ukrainian representative for the N.J. Governor's Ethnic Advisory Council for 10 years and served as chairman of the Education Subcommittee.

A native of Clifton, N.J. he lived in Maplewood, N.J., for 50 years.

He was the beloved husband of 63 years to Evelyn (née Kalakura); father of Andrea Severini and Dr. Robert Keybida with his wife, Diane; and grandfather of Christopher and Melissa Keybida, and Lauren and Thomas Severini, with his wife, Michele.

The funeral liturgy was held on Monday, July 10, at St. John's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Newark, N.J. Interment followed at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover, N.J.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to: St. John's Ukrainian Catholic Church, 719 Sanford Ave., Newark, NJ.

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