Bohdan Kowalyk

Bohdan Kowalyk, born in October 1926 in western Ukraine, lived a life defined by courage, conviction, integrity, and service. As a young man, he joined the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), fighting in one of the most turbulent chapters of his homeland’s history. His commitment to Ukrainian independence shaped not only his youth, but the decades of community leadership that followed his arrival in the United States in 1969.

After immigrating to New York, Bohdan first settled in Manhattan before planting deeper roots in Yonkers, where he became a pillar of the growing Ukrainian-American community. He worked at Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons, balancing a full professional career with tireless volunteerism dedicating his weekends and evening to the Ukrainian cause and as a dedicated parishioner of St. Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church. In Yonkers, he played a central role in strengthening the SUMA Federal Credit Union, serving on its board of directors and helping transform it from a small immigrant initiative into a thriving financial institution that uplifted countless families. The bank preserved Ukrainian culture and identity by funding Ukrainian Youth Association and local schools and organizations.

Bohdan’s greatest legacy within the Ukrainian diaspora was his leadership in the Society of Veterans of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army in the USA. As National Secretary, President, and historian, he dedicated himself to preserving the record of the UPA and its veterans helping to ensure that the personal accounts of his fellow soldiers were preserved for academic and historical research. He served as a compiler and editor of the organization’s monumental Almanac, ensuring that the stories, documents, and sacrifices of his fellow soldiers would endure for future generations.

A devoted husband to Jirina (Irene) Kowalyk, loving father of Vladimir and Maria, and proud grandfather of Steven and Elliott Kowalyk. Bohdan was a fixture of the Yonkers Ukrainian community—active in cultural, veterans’, and church life until his later years on Bryant Road. His life’s journey—from wartime resistance fighter to community elder—embodied resilience, service, and unwavering dedication to heritage. He leaves behind a lasting imprint on the institutions and people he helped strengthen, both in Ukraine and in his adopted home of New York. Bohdan will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

Visiting hours will be held at Whalen & Ball Funeral Home, located at 168 Park Ave, Yonkers, NY, 10703, on Tuesday February 10, 2026, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm. A Panakhyda Service will also take place at the same venue on February 10, 2026 from 7:30 pm to 8:00 pm.

The Funeral Service will be celebrated in St Michael's Ukrainian Catholic Church, 21 Shonnard Pl, Yonkers, NY, 10703, on Wednesday February 11, 2026 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am.

Interment will follow at Holy Spirit Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery, 141 Sarah Wells Trail, New York, NY, 10916.