OBITUARY: Vasyl Kolodchin, 80, leader and activist of Ukrainian causes (10/01/06)

OBITUARY: Vasyl Kolodchin, 80, leader and activist of Ukrainian causes

by Paul J. Dzul

DETROIT - Last month the Ukrainian community of metropolitan Detroit bid a final farewell to Vasyl Kolodchin, who died on August 14 at the age of 80. Mr. Kolodchin had dedicated his life to promoting many Ukrainian causes, and was a co-founder and supporter of many organizations and community actions.

Mr. Kolodchin was born and grew up in the village of Holhoche, located in the region of Pidhaitsi, western Ukraine. At the age of 14 he lost his father, who was arrested and killed by the Russian secret police.

His father's death motivated Mr. Kolodchin to join the Ukrainian resistance forces under the assumed name ("Luh") to fight the Soviet and, later, the German occupiers.

At the end of World War II he, like hundreds of thousands of other Ukrainians, decided to flee his homeland and seek shelter in the West. After an adventurous flight across Russian-occupied Czechoslovakia and Hungary, he arrived in Western Germany and found shelter in the Displaced Persons (DP) camp in Berchtesgaden. There he had an opportunity to finish high school and work in Ukrainian youth organizations.

Mr. Kolodchin immigrated to the United States in 1948 and settled down in the industrial city of Detroit, where he would live for 58 years. He completed his studies at the Wayne State University with a degree in chemistry and worked for 31 years at the Ethyl Corp. as a director of research and development, authoring many patents for new products.

He became involved in Ukrainian affairs shortly after his arrival here. His civic work was diverse and enduring. He was a co-founder of the Plast Center, the Ukrainian Cultural and Civic Club, the Society of the Pidhaitsi Region, the Selfreliance Society and Ukrainian Patriarchal Movement.

In 1987 he presented a petition to the pope for the recognition of the Ukrainian Patriarchate. He was the originator of the religious movement Ukrainian Youth for Christ and co-author of the books "History of Ukraine" and the "Role of Laity in the Church."

For his civic work Mr. Kolodchin was recognized by the Ukrainian Graduates Club of Detroit and Windsor as "Ukrainian of the Year 1971." The Ukrainian World Congress awarded him the medal of St. Volodymyr the Great.

For the last 25 years Mr. Kolodchin was the director of the Ukrainian radio program "Song of Ukraine." He broadcast 4,000 weekly radio transmissions and was the spokesman of Ukrainians in Detroit and Windsor. Mr. Kolodchin's radio hour had a large following.

He married Lida Indra, who was his inspiration and lifelong supporter. She, their son, Roman, and daughter-in-law, Adriana, cared for him during his grave illness, showing Mr. Kolodchin their love and hope.

Mr. Kolodchin died in his sleep on August 14. All the area's Ukrainian Catholic clergy and hundreds of mourners participated in funeral services at the St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Church in Warren, Mich.

At the funeral, representatives of the local and national Ukrainian communities and organizations said their final farewells and honored the departed, recognizing his merits, courage and devotion.

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