Dr. Yaroslav Bilinsky, of Newark, Delaware passed away on September 16, 2024, after a brief illness. He was 92. Yaroslav was born on February 26, 1932, in Lutsk, Ukraine to the late Peter and Natalia Bilinsky.
Yaroslav immigrated to the United States with his mother in 1951. Yaroslav graduated from Harvard University in 1954 and went on to receive his Doctorate from Princeton University in 1956. Yaroslav taught at Rutgers University from 1958 to 1961 and would go on to his second and final teaching position at the University of Delaware in the Political Science department. After 41 years at UD, Yaroslav retired as a Professor Emeritus in 2002. Yaroslav would continue his work researching and publishing numerous books and articles on the Soviet Union and Ukraine. Those close to Yaroslav would say one of his greatest desires was to see Ukraine to join NATO.
Yaroslav married Wira Rusaniwskyj in 1962. Together they raised four children. Yaroslav was a founding member of Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church where he held several board positions. Yaroslav was a member of various political science and Ukrainian organizations. One of his most treasured memories was attending Vice President Joe Biden’s Christmas party at the Naval Observatory in 2011.
Yaroslav was preceded in death by his wife Wira and his son Peter Bilinsky. He is survived by his daughters, Sophia Bilinsky (Walter Shevchuk) and Nadia Kuhlmann (Hans) his son Mark Bilinsky (Elizabeth), his eight grandchildren, Ariana and Adrian Shevchuk, Dieter, Willem, Max and Anya Kuhlmann, Maggie and Sam Bilinsky.
Our family would like to thank the staff and caregivers at Paramount Assisted Living in Newark for the kindness and compassion they showed our father over the last several years.
A viewing will be held on Sunday, September 22 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm at the McCrery & Harra Funeral Home, 3710 Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington, DE 19808. A visitation will be held at on Monday, September 23 at 9:30 am with services following at 10:00 AM at Sts. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 1406 Philadelphia Pike, Wilmington, DE. Burial will be in St. Andrew’s South Bound Brook, NJ.
To send condolences visit: www.mccreryandharra.com.
