Dr. Stephan Tymkiw

Dr. Tymkiw leaves a legacy of love and dedication spread out over a century. He is survived by his wife Tamara of 73 years (“the best mother in the world”), four “favorite” daughters and two “number one” son-in-law’s, respectively: Barbara Tymkiw, M.D. (Art Little), Christina Tymkiw, Irene Cook (Don Cook), and Lydia Tymkiw, as well as three “favorite” grandchildren: Katherine Little, Roxanne Cook, and Nicholas Cook.

Dr. Tymkiw was born in the small village of Vynohrad, Ukraine to farmers Barbara and Petro Tymkiw. He moved away from his family to complete high school in the city of Kolomyia and began the pursuit of his medical career in Lviv. Facing imminent draft by the German and Soviet armies, he fled his beloved native country. His dangerous escape took him through Poland, the Czech Republic, and Austria. He survived by his wits, serendipitous luck, and the kindness of strangers, and eventually landed in a displaced persons resettlement camp in Germany before going on to complete medical school at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. Munich was also where he met the love of his life, Tamara.

Upon earning his medical degree, Dr. Tymkiw immigrated to the United States and completed his internship in Staten Island, New York (while learning the English language along the way). He married Tamara in Toronto in 1953 after she immigrated to Canada. He chose Pathology as his specialty, completed his residency in Youngstown, Ohio, and started a family.

In 1958, Dr. Tymkiw joined the medical staff of Peninsula General Hospital Medical Center in Salisbury, Maryland, which was in dire need of a second pathologist. He modernized the hospital clinical lab and became the backbone of a growing department. In his professional and personal life, he was known for his unwavering integrity, caring and generous nature, a charming personality, and his wonderful distinctive laugh. He was a member of the College of American Pathology, the American Society of Clinical Pathology, the Ukrainian Medical Association of North America, and the Wicomico Medical Society.

When not at the hospital, Dr. Steve could be found on the tennis court or smashing a winning ping pong shot. He was a great dancer and had the best singing voice in the family. The local Barbershop Group was glad to have him as a member. He traveled around the world and loved to take cruises. With his wife Tamara’s prodding and encouragement, he even grew to appreciate opera and the symphony. He forever cherished his Ukrainian heritage and supported many Ukrainian charities. In 1974, he was finally able to return to Ukraine and reunite with his parents after 30 years of separation. He collected Ukrainian art and was a patron of The Ukrainian Museum in NYC. A milestone in his life was becoming a US citizen.

Steve and Tammy spent their retirement years in Millersville, Maryland with wonderful neighbors on their cul-de-sac who became lifelong friends. As he slowed down in his nineties, he enjoyed bird watching on his deck, drinking a spicy margarita (or two), watching Judge Judy in the afternoons, and spending time with family celebrating large and small moments. Family undeniably always came first.

Dr. Tymkiw was a member of St. Francis de Sales Church in Salisbury, MD, St. Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church in Baltimore, and Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church in Silver Spring where he celebrated his 100th birthday with a delicious luncheon featuring his favorite Ukrainian foods. Becoming a centenarian was quite the accomplishment and he loved to talk about it.

He will be so greatly missed and forever remembered.

Visitation with family will be held on Tuesday, July 14th, from 4-8 at the Hines-Rinaldi Funeral Home, 11800 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Wednesday morning July 15th at 11:00 at Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church, 16631 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring. A luncheon reception will be held at Konstantine’s Greek Taverna immediately following the Mass. Burial will be private on Thursday at St. Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions can be made to:

The Ukrainian Museum (www.theukrainianmuseum.org), 222 E 6th Street, New York, Ny 10003, Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church ([email protected]) 16631 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20905, or U.S.-Ukraine Foundation (https://usukraine.org) PO Box 27415, Washington, D.C. 20038-7415.