Eugene Orest Sadowsky

Eugene Orest Sadowsky [Євген Орест Садовський], (b. 1913 in Ripne, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine; d. August 2, 2014 in OH). Long-time choir director at St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Parma, OH. Sadowsky—whose father was a priest—was born in 1913 in the village of Ripne near Ivano-Frankivsk. He left Ukraine in 1944 and travelled to Austria and Germany, before immigrating to the U.S. In 1955 he organized the Dnipro Chorus, which for four decades gave concerts throughout North America, including a memorable appearance at Expo 67 in Montreal. An energetic and charismatic leader, Sadowsky aptly signed all his works with the monogram “OCA,” which he derived from “[О]рест [СА]довський,” the Ukrainian word for “wasp.” He passed away in Parma, Ohio, on August 2, 2014, at the age of 101.

1944: Emigrated from Ukraine.

1955: Founded DNIPRO Chorus (Parma, Ohio).