Wasyl Palijczuk

7/10/1934 - 5/1/2025

Wasyl Palijczuk, age 90, passed away at his residence in Philadelphia, PA on May 1, 2025. He was the beloved husband of the late Oksana Palijczuk, devoted father of Ksenia Scorsolini (David) and Natalka Palijczuk and loving grandfather to Sophia and Mateo Scorsolini.

Wasyl was born in 1934 in Dzhuriv, Ukraine, a small village near the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains. An only child, Wasyl lost his mother in infancy and was raised by his father until the start of WWII, when his father was taken to Germany and Wasyl was left to fend for himself. It was during this time that Wasyl developed his passion for art and love of nature. With nothing else to do and no one to stop him, he’d roam the village streets and sit by the river each day, sculpting with clay or drawing with burnt wood charcoal on the white-washed walls of his tiny thatched roof home. After a few years, Wasyl was also taken to Germany and briefly reunited with his father. Soon after the war ended, Wasyl fell ill and spent six months in a children’s hospital where he met an American social worker who later helped bring him to the US at the age of 15.

Wasyl settled in Baltimore, MD and was immediately enrolled into the 9th grade despite not being able to speak English. After graduating from Baltimore City College (HS), Wasyl served four years as a draftsman in the Intelligence Division of the US Air Force before attending the University of Maryland where he earned his BA as well as Master’s Degree in Fine Art. He later received a second master’s degree in sculpture from the Maryland Institute of Art. Upon graduating, Wasyl bought a house on Calvert Street in Charles Village where he lived and worked at “Studio Wasyl.” Eventually, Wasyl was offered a professorship at Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College) where he taught art for over 30 years. He was a natural and truly loved teaching. In 1975, he married Oksana Lasijczuk and became a father to twin girls, Ksenia and Natalka, the following year.

Wasyl was charming and charismatic. He was always dressed to impress with a style all his own. He was rarely without a hat on his head and a pen in his coat pocket. Wasyl loved to dance. He’d twirl and spin any partner who was willing. He appreciated beauty and loved people but was most happy at home reading a good book or in nature taking long walks in the woods and tending to his garden and beloved bonsai trees. His warm smile and generous spirit will be sorely missed.

Family and friends are invited to Wasyl’s Celebration of Life on Thursday, May 22nd at The Cloisters (address below) from 11:00am-3:00pm. Visitation will take place from 11:00-1:00 followed by a short service and luncheon. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to United Help Ukraine: https://unitedhelpukraine.org/

The Cloisters

10440 Falls Road

Lutherville Timonium, MD 21093