Community activist, Nazi concentration camp survivor honored

 The children of Iwanna “Jean” Holowaty of Venice — an active member of St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in North Port, past president of the North Port chapter of Ukrainian National Women’s League of America (“Soyuz Ukrayinok,” union of Ukrainian ladies), an active member of several other organizations and a Nazi concentration camp survivor
— arranged for a special celebration of her 90th birthday. The children, Christine Schlesinger and David Kotok, Marta and George Garcia, Alexandra and Kent Hildebrand, and George and Margie Holowaty, invited more than 100 friends of their mother to a dinner March 1 at Boca Royale Golf & Country Club in Englewood.

    The invitation, made expressly for Jean by Lidia Bilous, was very specific: “Please help us honor our mother’s wishes that no gifts be part of His celebration. In their place, please consider a contribution in her honor to one of the charities listed.” There were two charities — the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America (checks to be made payable to the UNWLA Scholarship Program) and the Ukrainian Catholic University (checks to be made payable to the Ukrainian Catholic Education Foundation). My wife Katrusia, who is a member of the UNWLA, and I made a contribution in honor of Jean’s 90th birthday to the UNWLA Scholarship Program, and wish her many more years of good health and happiness and continuous productive community activities, which she enjoys very much.

    The delicious dinner, including dessert and wine, all expertly served by the friendly Boca Royale staff, began with an invocation by the Rev. Dr. Severyn Kovalyshin, pastor of St. Mary’s Church, and continued with the traditional singing of “Mnohaya Leeta!” (many, many years), a slide presentation of the birthday girl’s life and her family, and the introduction of all members of her family — children and their spouses, grandchildren and their spouses, and great-grandchildren. It was a truly classy, wonderful, enjoyable and memorable affair.

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    We are very proud of our youngest son, Maj. A. Ihor Kobryn, U.S. Army Reserve, a St. John University alumnus and a veteran of “Operation Iraqi Freedom,” who recently received a master of science degree from New York University after completing his required studies while supporting his family and attending all scheduled USAR meetings.

    Congratulations and best wishes for continued success in all your endeavors, dear son!

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    Sixty years ago, on March 4, 1954, while on active duty as a corporal with the 530th Military Intelligence Platoon of the 3rd U.S. Army at Fort Bragg, N.C., I was made a citizen of the United States of America. My naturalization certificate, after the swearing-in ceremony, was presented to me personally by Maj. Gen. Joseph P. Cleland, XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg post commander, in the Fort Bragg sports arena while the XVIII Airborne Corps orchestra played military and patriotic songs.

    There were more than two dozen individuals naturalized in that ceremony, mostly soldiers. The largest group was made up of soldiers born in Ukraine who arrived in the U.S. after World War II, who were in the country for only a short time. For example, I was inducted after being here only eight months.

    Atanas Kobryn covers the Ukrainian community for the North Port Sun. He can be emailed atanask@aol.com. 

Our Neighbors — The Ukrainians

by Atanas Kobryn