John Basarab passed away on Feb. 9, 2012 at the age of 92.
John was born in Madera, Pennsylvania on Dec. 21, 1919, the son of the late Frank (Onufer) Basarab and Mary (Maria) Basarab. He graduated from Bigler Township High School in 1938 and Penn State in 1942.
He served in the US Army from 1942-1946. While in the Army he met his future wife, Syrna Saliterman. They were married on February 4, 1943.
After the war, he received his MA in Political Science from Columbia University in 1950. He joined the CIA in 1950, serving until 1970. Afterwards, he pursued his PhD in History at American University which was conferred in 1975. His thesis was the basis of his book titled Perieaslav 1654: A Historiographical Study, published in 1982.
From 1970-1972, John taught at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. From 1972-1980, was the head of the Ukrainian Desk at Radio Liberty in Munich, Germany. Afterwards he returned to the Washington DC, working for the Ukrainian National Information Service and teaching at the University of Maryland. He retired completely in 1983, living with his wife at his beloved farm in Somerset, PA. They also lived in Falls Church, VA, LaJolla, CA and Raleigh, NC. After Syrna’s passing in 2006 he moved to Landisville, PA.
He is survived by 4 children, Elizabeth, Robert, Richard, and Gregory and 3 grandchildren, Jennifer, Daryl, and Brett. He is also survived by 2 brothers, Andrew Fenchak and Paul Fenchak , and by 3 sisters, Anna Kohan, Kathryn Lumanick and Susan Warholic. He was preceded in death by his wife Syrna, his mother and father, his brothers George, Stephen and Michael and his sister Mary Marks.
Funeral Services will be held on Feb. 25, 2012 at 12 Noon at the Kruise Funeral Home, Inc, Ramey. Friends will be received at the funeral home from 11:00 a.m. until the time of services.
The family would like to extend its appreciation to the staff at Oak Leaf Manor North assisted living facility in Landisville for the kind care given to him during the past five years.
