William Stefaniuk's Obituary
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of William Stefaniuk, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend.
William left this world peacefully on May 7, 2025, at the age of 86, surrounded by the love of his family in Parma, Ohio. He was born on July 6, 1939, in Mykulychyn, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, to Petro and Kataryna Stefaniuk (née Sorokhmaniuk), who instilled in him the values of patriotism, industriousness, resilience, and compassion from a young age.
In 1944, during the height of World War II, William and his family — including his parents and five siblings — fled their home in the Carpathian Mountains of Ukraine as refugees. They spent several years in displaced persons camps near Salzburg and Vienna, Austria, before finally departing from Bremerhaven, Germany, aboard the USAT General Harry Taylor, immigrating to the United States in December 1949. After arriving at Ellis Island, the family lived in San Antonio, Texas, and Newark, New Jersey, before eventually settling in Cleveland, Ohio.
William was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and proudly served his country during the Vietnam War era. He enlisted in 1959 and served until 1962, stationed at the Kadena Air Base in Okinawa and the Loring Air Force Base in Maine. William served with distinction as an Air Policeman and also performed administrative duties during his enlistment.
Upon separating from the military, he continued his studies at Kent State University, John Carroll University, and the University of Wisconsin, later embracing a teaching career that spanned more than 40 years with the Cleveland Public School District. He was affectionately referred to by students as "Mr. Cool" and "Smooth Breeze."
As a teacher, he actively helped many students, especially those from immigrant families arriving from Ukraine after the collapse of the Soviet Union. In addition to teaching, he established the "Mighty Pawns" chess team, which he successfully coached to win numerous championships over the years. Beyond education, William was an active real estate broker through his brokerage, Thomas Paine Realty, impressing clients with his fluency in multiple foreign languages.
William married the love of his life, Stefania, on December 27, 1980, and together they built a beautiful family. Together, they raised five wonderful children: Stefan (Oksana); William; Katerina Treer; Myroslava Tidyman (Andrew); and Larissa Rudd (David). He was also blessed with a son, Marko, from a previous marriage in 1972.
William always found comfort and happiness in being surrounded by friends and family. He held his ten beloved grandchildren especially close to his heart: Lesya, Victor, William, and John Stefaniuk; William and Clark Stefaniuk; Valentina Treer; and Virginia, Henry, and Miles Tidyman. He also greatly enjoyed spending time with his siblings and many nieces and nephews, especially during family gatherings around the holidays.
William was preceded in death by his brothers Tanasij, John, and Michael, and his sister Julia. He is survived by his loving wife Stefania; his sons Marko, Stefan, and William; his daughters Katerina, Myroslava, and Larissa; and his sisters, Anna and Maria.
Over the years, William remained actively involved in the Ukrainian community. He participated in numerous Ukrainian organizations, including the Hutsul Friendship Association, which he personally founded, and was a proud member of the Ukrainian American Veterans, Post 24, in Parma, Ohio. He loved attending Ukrainian festivals, eating Ukrainian cuisine, and listening to traditional Ukrainian music. He was also a patron of the church in Mykulychyn, Ukraine, and had the honor of ringing its bell during a family visit in 2019. William was deeply committed to Ukraine’s freedom and independence throughout his life and he found great purpose in being part of the Ukrainian community.
William's life was marked by peace, love, unity, and timeless wisdom. He often expressed himself through clever, aphoristic rhymes, which he readily shared with family, friends, and all those he met. His words left a lasting impression, offering both humor and insight. He knew how to rhyme — and how to have a good time.
He was a passionate advocate of Enlightenment ideals — reason, individualism, and skepticism — as championed by America’s founding fathers, particularly Thomas Paine. Echoing Paine’s spirit, he embraced the belief that “the world is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.” A voracious reader of newspapers and historical books, William stayed well-informed on current events and was esteemed by many as a walking encyclopedia — even fondly referred to as “professor” by friends and colleagues.
A highly competitive chess player, William was known for giving simultaneous exhibitions in local schools, often playing entire teams at once. During his service at Loring Air Force Base, he won the base chess championship in 1962. He later captained the Ukrainian-American Division I Chess Team, leading them to victory in the 1977 Team Championship of Greater Cleveland. In his younger years, he also enjoyed sports such as soccer, boxing, running, and ping pong.
William took great pleasure in life’s simple joys — drinking coffee, cooking his favorite meals, enjoying honey, dancing, and listening to the music he loved, with a special fondness for classic country and 1950s ballads. On sunny days, he was often found relaxing outdoors, savoring the moment and the world around him.
No matter what he did, William loved the life he was given, treasured each and every moment, and did his best to live his life to the fullest.
Visitation for William Stefaniuk will be held at Yurch Funeral Home, located at 5618 Broadview Rd, Parma, OH 44134, on Friday, May 16, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Parastas Service at 7:00 PM. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, May 17, at 12:00 PM, at the Pokrova Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, located at 6812 Broadview Rd, Parma, OH 44134. Father Mykhaylo Drozdovskyy will officiate the services. Interment will take place at Pokrova Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church.
Friends and family are invited to pay their respects and celebrate the life of a thoughtful, kind, and peaceful man who touched the hearts of so many.
As we remember William, let us carry forward his legacy of peace, love, kindness, and devotion to family and community. His competitive spirit and unwavering support will be dearly missed — but never forgotten. Rest in peace, William. You have left a lasting impact in our hearts and minds that will remain with us forever. Vichnaya Pamyat.
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