Bohdan J. Chaplynsky

Bohdan J. Chaplynsky passed away peacefully on January 15, 2013 surrounded by family and loved ones in East Hanover, NJ. He was 76 years old. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend the funeral service at St. John Ukrainian Catholic Church, 719 Sanford Avenue, Newark, NJ 07106, on Saturday, January 19th at 1:00 PM. A reception will then follow at 3:00 PM at the Ukrainian American Cultural Center of New Jersey at 60C North Jefferson Road Whippany, NJ 07981. Bohdan Chaplynsky was born in the Ukrainian city of Stanislaviv (now Ivanofrankivske). In 1949, he emigrated to the United States settling in Philadelphia. While completing a BS in Electrical Engineering, he began studying voice at the Peabody Conservatory and, later, at the Academy of Vocal Arts, and at Temple University in Philadelphia. His singing career began in 1959 as soloist and as the youngest member of the acclaimed Ukrainian Banduryst Chorus and in 1961 he participated in the ensemble's celebrated and triumphant tour of Europe. In 1975, he performed as a soloist with the Germantown Oratorial Choir of Philadelphia during its tour in England. In 1981, he co-starred with Cornelis Opthof in the Edmonton premier of the fully-staged opera, Kupalo, which had a multi-performance run to sell-out crowds. Later that season, Chaplynsky headed to New York where he appeared with the American Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. During Ukrainian Opera Week in Toronto in 1984, Chaplynsky sang one of the lead roles in the comic opera, Zaporozhian Kozak Beyond the Danube. One year later, he sang the role of Pinkerton in the Ukrainian-language production of Madame Butterfly, staged in New York and by the Lysenko Opera Company. In 1986, he was the featured Tenor at the Mazepa Foundation's American Tribute to Taras Shevchenko held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. In 1991, Chaplynsky re-joined the Ukrainian Bandurist Choir for the 75-year reunion tour to Ukraine, with a solo performance of Bayda. This historic event was the chorus' first tour to Ukraine since World War II. In the years that followed, Chaplynsky was a frequently featured soloist performer for Ukrainian cultural and community events. Among many others, he performed at the Children of Chornobyl 10-year Anniversary Benefit in Jenkintown in 1996. A year later, he sang at the UECC's Benefit for Svoboda, the Ukrainian newspaper in Philadelphia. In 2001, he was featured at the 10-year anniversary of Ukrainian Independence's commemoration held at the Philadelphia Museum of Art; and in 2003, he opened the benefit for the AIDS awareness weekend in Philadelphia with many esteemed international guests including, Ukrainian Metropolitan Stefan Soroka. Beyond Ukrainian opera circles, Chaplynsky was a leading tenor with multiple opera companies including the Rittenhouse Opera Society, Berks Opera Company, Piccola Opera Company and Amici Opera Company. Admired for his elegant stage presence and pitch-perfect high notes, he moved audiences in lead tenor roles from classic operas such as Il Trovatore, Cosi Fan Tutte, Faust, Don Jose, La Traviata, La Boheme, Aida, Carmen, Tosca, Paliaccio, Rigoletto, Turandot, and Cavelleria Rusticana among many more. Bohdan was preceded by his wife of many years, Stefanie Antoniak Chaplynsky. He is survived by their daughters, Lida Chaplynsky and Renata Tasker, son-in-law Mark, grandchildren Lucy and Sofia; sister, Dr. Marta Chaplynsky Samuelson and her children Mical with husband Lucas and Christian with fiance Taylor. Bohdan is also survived by many dear friends and his loving companion Oksana Steranka and her children Christina (Tunia) with husband Oleh; and Adrian with wife Nicole. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Bohdan's name to the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia or to the Ukrainian Museum in New York City.