Obituary: Yuriy Myron Bihun, 1952-2024

It
is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Yuriy Myron
Bihun, who died after a long illness, on Saturday, August 31, 2024,
at the age of 72. Yuriy was a beloved husband, father, grandfather,
brother and friend who touched the lives of many with his wealth of
knowledge, acerbic wit and the passion he had for forestry and the
natural world.

Born
on March 12, 1952, in Irvington, N.J., to Yaroslav and Nadia
(Kredenser) Bihun, Yuriy was raised in a strong Ukrainian family and
community. These roots guided him throughout his life, both in his
personal and professional endeavors. Yuriy was a man of many talents
and languages, known for his sharp intellect and deep love for
learning. Yuriy graduated Lafyette College with honors in 1974,
studying European history. He went on to pursue his lifelong interest
in forestry, earning a degree in forest management from Oregon State
University and a master of science in forest genetics from the
University of Maine in 1982.

This
knowledge of forestry, along with his curiosity of the world, took
him around the globe in a professional capacity. He worked to
establish seedling nurseries in Haiti, protected tropical hardwoods
in Latin America, identified timber blights in Lebanon and cruised
the unspoiled timberlands of the Carpathian Mountains of Ukraine.
Despite his love for world travel, he always considered Vermont his
home base, having moved here in 1984 to manage commercial woodlots in
the Northeast Kingdom.

As
a forest resource analyst, Yuriy had great expertise working with the
sustainable management of forest ecosystems and the restoration of
natural landscapes. In 1991, he initiated the foundation of the Penn
State Center for Ukrainian Agriculture, serving on its advisory board
from 1992 to 1996. From 2003 to 2004, he was a senior Fulbright
scholar at the Ukrainian National Forestry University in Ukraine. He
was invited to return to Ukraine as a senior Fulbright specialist in
fall 2006. That same year, Yuriy became program adviser at Penn
State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, focusing on bilateral
exchange, training and research programs with government
organizations and institutions of higher learning in agriculture and
natural resources in Ukraine. For many years, he continued to serve
as a mentor for Ukrainian scholars as they pursued their studies in
the U.S.

Over
the course of his career, Yuriy had been a consultant and adviser to
many causes close to his heart, chief among them the American
Chestnut Foundation. He spent seven successful years as the
Vermont/New Hampshire chapter president. In his time there, he worked
tirelessly toward the audacious and hopeful goal of restoring the
American chestnut.

The
great outdoors was Yuriy’s sanctuary. He was a passionate backpacker
and hiker, exploring the forests and mountains of the Pacific
Northwest before immersing himself in the beauty of the Green
Mountains. In the winters he was an avid backcountry skier, with many
of his companions struggling to keep up with him. He participated in
the Camel’s Hump Challenge, a strenuous backcountry ski tour, many
times. He served on its organizing committee for a number of years
and logged countless hours of trail maintenance. When Yuriy wasn’t
on the trail, he could be found on the squash court at Twin Oaks,
besting opponents half his age.

Beyond
his active lifestyle, Yuriy had a deep appreciation for the arts and
music, particularly jazz. He was not only a devoted listener but also
a volunteer coordinator for Burlington’s Discover Jazz Festival for
many years. Yuriy’s involvement in the jazz community reflected his
commitment to fostering culture and bringing people together through
music.

Yuriy
was supported throughout his life by his wife of 46 years, Irene. She
provided him extensive, tender care throughout his prolonged illness.
He is survived by his loving wife; son, Nicholas, and wife Michelle;
daughter, Ulana, and husband Jake; grandson, Theodor; sister, Renata,
and brother-in-law, Richard; and a host of extended family and
friends who will miss him dearly.

A
mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Friday, September 6,
2024, 4 p.m., at St. Thomas Church, 6 Green St., Underhill Center,
VT, followed by a celebration of Yuriy’s life, 6 to 9 p.m., at the
Mansfield Barn, 3 Irish Farm Rd., Jericho, VT. In lieu of flowers,
the family requests that donations be made to the American Chestnut Foundation charity or the New Century Fund for Ukraine.

This article appears in Aug 28 – Sep 3, 2024.