Obituary of Sydir Michael Tymiak

Sydir Michael Tymiak, 86 of North Port, Florida loving husband, father, grandfather and humanitarian passed away April 13, 2008 at his home. Sydir was born April 2, 1922 in Ukraine the son of the late Michael and Anna (Borodczak) Tymiak. He obtained his engineering degree in Graz and married Maria (Chrobak) in St. Anton, Austria. As a professional engineer, he managed construction projects for the drinking water supply in Tunis, Tunisia, a bridge in Anchicaya Colombia SA, a US naval base in Western Australia and numerous steel mill operations in the US and Canada. He worked for Koppers in Pittsburgh, Pa. for 25 years until his retirement in 1988, after which he consulted with Chem-Dyne on environmental remediation of Super Fund sites. He and his wife Maria have been seasonal residents of North Port FL for the past 20 years. Sydir was the founder, organizer, and President of the Ukrainian Selfreliance Credit Union of Western PA for 20 years. He organized multiple humanitarian projects in Lviv, Ukraine that included starting the first open heart surgery and cardiac catheterization unit, a poison control center and donations of medical equipment and supplies in conjunction with the Norwin Rotary. He started a foundation in 1991 to provide scholarships for his Alma Mater in Lviv, was a member of the Ukrainian Patriarchal Society for over 37 years and was the president of the Tristate Children of Chernobyl Relief Committee until his death. Sydir leaves behind his loving wife of 62 years Maria, son, Roman Tymiak of Pittsburgh, Pa., daughters, Lyda Tymiak, MD of Palm Harbor, Fl., and Adrienne Tymiak, PhD of Hopewell, NJ., grandchildren, Andrea Cottrell, MD, Michael Carrion, Lauren Ackerman, and Paul Ackerman as well as extended family in the Ukraine. A service will be held for Sydir at a later date. In lieu of flowers donations in support of the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv may be made to the Ukrainian Catholic Education Foundation (UCEF), 2247 West Chicago Ave, Chicago IL 60622 (www.ucef.org).