Obituaries Surnames A-J Submitted by Smerek Group Researchers

life, Syrna Saliterman. They were married on February 4, 1943 and were together when
she passed away on July 9, 2006. After the war, John pursued his master’s degree. As
part of his studies, he attended Charles University in Prague, Czechoslovakia. He and his
wife were one of the few Americans present in Prague in 1948 during the Communist
takeover. He received the degree of Master of Arts in Political Science from Columbia
University in 1950. Impacted by his experience in Prague, he joined the Central
Intelligence Agency in 1950. He served in the Soviet Block Division of the CIA from
1950 to 1970. During this time he was stationed in Germany, Spain and Argentina. After
retiring from the CIA in 1970, he pursued his PhD at American University. He was
awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History in 1975. His thesis was the basis
of his book titled Perieaslav 1654: A Historiographical Study. Published in 1982, his
book is considered to be one of the most authoritative references on the topic. From
1970-1972, John taught political science and history at the University of Pittsburgh at
Johnstown. From 1972-1980, he worked as head of the Ukrainian desk of Radio Liberty
in Munich, Germany. After leaving Radio Liberty, he returned to the Washington DC
area and was the head of the Ukrainian National Information Service. He also taught
Soviet and East European History at the University of Maryland. He retired completely in
1983, living with his wife at his beloved farm in Somerset, PA. They also spent time
living in Falls Church, VA and San Diego, CA before settling down in Raleigh, NC.
After his wife’s death he moved to Pennsylvania and lived in Landisville, PA until his
death. He loved his 50 acre farm in Somerset and, when younger, spent much of his free
time there growing grapes and blueberries. John was an avid reader and scholar all his
life. At one time he spoke and understood 11 different languages. He was an active
follower of current events and politics and spent much of his later life watching CNN
news. When commenting on his hair loss, he would quip "Grass does not grow on a busy
street!” His mind was one of the busiest of super highways. He is survived by four
children and their spouses: Elizabeth (Basarab) Miles and her husband Larry, Robert
Basarab and his wife Rosanne, Richard Basarab, Gregory Basarab and his wife Sheila.
He has 3 grandchildren and their spouses: Daryl Basarab, Brett Basarab, Jennifer
Basarab-Tung and her husband Ka-Wah Tung. He is also survived by two brothers,
Andrew Fenchak, Paul Fenchak and his wife Ellen and by three sisters Anna (Basarab)
Kohan, Kathryn (Basarab) Lumanick and Susan (Basarab) Warholic. He was preceded in
death by his mother and father, his brothers George Basarab, Stephen Basarab and
Michael Basarab, his sister Mary (Basarab) Marks and his wife Syrna (Saliterman)
Basarab. 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. He considered Oak Leaf his home. Funeral Services will be held on Sat. Feb.
25, 2012 at 12 Noon in the Kruise Funeral Home, Inc. 2550 Union St. Ramey, PA.
Friends will be received at the Kruise Funeral Home on Sat., Feb. 25. from 11:00 AM
until the time of services. In lieu of a donation, the family suggests expressing love or
sending flowers to a special person in your life.
BASARAB, Stephen
Stephen Basarab, 87, Accountant for IRS Stephen Basarab, a retired Internal Revenue
Service accountant who was active in Ukrainian-American cultural affairs, died Friday of
heart failure at his Wyman Park home. He was 87. Mr. Basarab worked as a certified