Bohdan Kutko

Bohdan Kutko was born on June 2, 1934 in Drohobych, Ukraine to Ignatius and Anastazia Kutko (nee Hawrylak). The family fled Ukraine during World War II due to communist persecution and arrived as refugees in the United States in 1949 by way of Germany. Bohdan attended school in the United Nations-sponsored displaced persons camp in Berchtesgaden, Germany during that time. 

The family was sponsored by his father’s relatives which allowed the family to come to Indiana.  Eventually, they settled in Chicago. Bohdan attended Tuley High School in Chicago where  he represented the school winning the city’s table tennis championship.  After graduation, he served in the United States Army Reserves and attended the University of Illinois in Champagne.  He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics.  He earned his living as a telecommunications engineer, first in Chicago and then after marrying Halyna in 1964, on the East Coast.  He worked for two years in Germany for ITT from 1966-1968.  Shortly after returning to the US, the family settled in Mahwah where he resided up until his death.

Bohdan was very active in the Ukrainian community.  He served as a trustee of St. Paul’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in Ramsey, NJ.  He was an avid tennis player and tournament chess player who enjoyed watching sports and discussing politics.  His hands were golden.  He could fix anything from a roof to a car.

Bohdan is survived by his wife Halyna (nee Sawchak), his son Adrian and daughter-in-law Colette; daughter Martha and son-in-law David; grandchildren Sophia, Derek, Alexandra, and Olivia; sister Luba Fedorkiw and family; brother Rusty Kutko and family; in-laws George and Patricia Sawchak and family;  extended family in the United States and Ukraine.

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