Stefan Olszansky

Stefan Olszansky, born on August 28, 1929, slipped away gently at the age of 95 on Wednesday, December 18, 2024. He left behind Irene, his strong, loving, and devoted wife of almost 72 years. The couple met in Rochester, NY after each came separately from Europe to start new lives in the US in the early 1950s. Stefan was born in Ukraine, a country he held close to his heart all his life. While in Rochester, he belonged to and became president of many Rochester Ukrainian organizations and clubs.

His early years included playing childhood games (he was very adept at skipping stones), swimming in a nearby river (where he almost drowned but was saved by someone he never saw to thank), and tagging along after his older brother (who preferred when Stefan was tasked with babysitting his younger sisters).

After World War II, and separated from his family, Stefan worked odd jobs, one being in a Belgian coal mine, until he was able to emigrate to the US and start anew, something he was both very grateful for and proud of. His US sponsor was an electrician who employed and trained Stefan. That, and completing an electrical engineering course ultimately led to Stefan working for and retiring from Eastman Kodak Company as an electronic engineering aide.

In addition to Irene, Stefan is also survived by his son, Roman Olszansky, and daughter, Maria Kendig, who both valued the many family evenings of playing Sorry or euchre, Sundays in the backyard pool, Letchworth Park or Hamlin Beach, being treated to Don and Bob’s or Carvels, or just spending simple nights together at the table listening to their parents’ old stories.

Losing touch with his first family made Stefan especially appreciative of visits with Irene’s Michigan relatives and times spent with his Rochester friends. When Maria married Eric, Stefan not only welcomed his son-in-law, but also embraced Eric’s entire family, leading to many years of Kendig/Olszansky get-togethers. Stefan was completely overjoyed by the addition of three grandchildren whom he loved dearly: Christopher, Katherine, and Alexander, their spouses: Sindhoo, Alex, and Imane, and four great-grandchildren: Mohan and Taras plus Nora and Robin.

Stefan loved sunny days, picnics and picnic volleyball, ice cream, an occasional stiff drink, floating in his pool, grilling (and taste-testing), celebrations with guests, watching soccer, reading about the Civil War, viewing nature shows, completing puzzles, puttering and building things around the house (like a second bathroom after Roman and Maria moved out). He also loved singing and performed occasionally at the Aloha restaurant, frequently with bands at Ukrainian dances, regularly with the church choir, often with a Ukrainian choir based in Toronto, and with friends at house parties.

Stefan was a vital man, vibrant and full of life – and he is very much loved and missed.