Ihor Jarema Masnyk

Ihor J. Masnyk passed away on Monday, March 4, 2024, at the age of 93. Beloved husband of the late Olya Shevchenko Masnyk (2007).  Devoted father of Taras (Christina) and Katya.  Cherished grandfather of Larissa, Tanya, Maksym, Danylo, and Mykyta. He also leaves behind grieving nieces, nephews, and many other relatives.

Born in Ukraine in 1930, Dr. Masnyk fled during World War II and came to the United States after living in displaced person camps in Czechoslovakia and Germany. He earned an undergraduate degree and master’s degree in chemistry from the University of Chicago and a Ph.D. in organic chemistry also from the University of Chicago. He served in the U.S. Army on active duty and later in the Reserves from which he retired as a Colonel.

Dr. Masnyk joined the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the U.S. National Institute of Health, in Bethesda, MD, in 1962 as a chemist in the Endocrine Evaluation Branch. During his 46-year career at the NCI, he served as Chief of the Planning and Analysis Branch, and as Director of the Extramural Research Program, Division of Cancer Biology and Diagnosis, Acting Associate Director of the Office of International Affairs, and as Deputy Director of the Division of Cancer Biology and Diagnosis.

After the Chernobyl catastrophe, in 1995, Dr. Masnyk began working with the Radiation Effects Branch in the Division of Cancer Biology to design and implement the NCI Chornobyl research program to study the affected populations in Ukraine and Belarus. Dr. Masnyk was highly regarded for his chemistry background, research, language skills, dedication, and creative thinking as project director. He retired from NIH in 2009 at the age of 79.

Over his lifetime, Dr. Masnyk was very active in many Ukrainian organizations. He was instrumental in building the St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Silver Spring, MD. He also enjoyed playing and teaching bandura and conducting the church choir. In his spare time, he loved making beautiful traditional Ukrainian Easter eggs every year and spent many hours on his beloved hobby during his retirement.

Visitation at Humes Funeral Home, 320 W. Lake Street, Addison, IL on Monday, March 11, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. with a Panachyda (wake service) at 7:00 p.m. at Humes Funeral Home.  

Funeral Saturday, March 16, 11:30 a.m. at St. Andrew's Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 280 Main St., South Bound Brook, NJ. Interment to follow at St. Andrew's Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery, 280 Main Street, South Bound Brook, NJ.  

 In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations, or memorials to any of the following:  

UMANA Foundation, (Ukrainian Medical Association of North America), 2247 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622, to help with medical and humanitarian relief for victims of the war in Ukraine.

MDS Foundation, 4573 South Broad Street, Suite 150, Yardville, NJ 08620.

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