Ihor Kulbida served as the associate pastor of the GCI congregation in Rochester, NY for more than 18 years. Pastor Leonard Banks submitted the following to share with our Update readers.
Ihor Kulbida, 82, passed away on Wednesday, March 22, 2023. Ihor was born in 1940 near Kiev, Ukraine. When he was a small child, his parents fled Ukraine due to World War II. They found refuge in a displaced persons camp in Germany. After several years, they were given residency in Brazil and built a life there for nine years, finally immigrating to the United States in 1958.
Ihor met his wife Marina four years later in 1962 in Brooklyn, NY. They were next door neighbors. They were married in 1964, and their son Chris was born in 1965. Their lovely daughter, Larissa, was born in 1969 and sadly passed away in 2021.
Ihor graduated from the City College of New York with an electrical engineering degree. He and his family moved to Rochester, and he worked as an engineer and manager at Xerox Corporation for 33 years. When he retired, he devoted his time as an associate pastor and treasurer for his church.
Ihor will be remembered as a caring husband by Marina, his wife of 58 years, and as a father, grandfather, and good friend to many.
I have fond memories of times shared with Ihor at GCI church services, training sessions, conferences and the like. He was a caring man with a servants heart. Ihor taught me a lot about Jesus. Rest in peace and rise in glory, my brother.
„Those we have held in our arms for a short while we hold in our hearts forever.” – Author Unknown
Dear Marina and Family,
May the God of all mercies fill you with his love and comfort during this difficult time of mourning.
Grace and Peace,
Santiago and Elke
Our 34-year friendship challenged us. Ihor’s logical mind required calculated, and reasonable facts. My intuitive thinking acknowledged the facts but required consideration of reality beyond empirical facts. We became one at Jesus’ Cross. We joined together seeking Jesus through life’s sorrows and joys. Today he knows what we only attempted to imagine. I miss him and look forward to joining him in heaven.
Thanks for sharing this…….!!!