Anatol Kononenko

Anatol Kononenko of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, passed away on January 18, 2022, at the age of 75.

He was born in 1946 in Hanau, Germany, to Iwan and Maria Kononenko who left Ukraine with Anatol’s older brother Walter as refugees during the Second World War.  In 1949 the family emigrated to America and eventually settled in Philadelphia.

Anatol attended Olney High School where he was a championship fencer.  He also played soccer and served as the art editor of the yearbook.  After graduation, he began taking classes at the Tyler School of Art.

As the Vietnam War progressed, Anatol was drafted.  From 1965 through 1967 he served in the U.S. Army where he was a forward observer in the 2nd Battalion (Mechanized) of the 22nd Infantry Regiment in Vietnam.  His unit received a citation after the Battle of Suoi Tre.

After Vietnam, Anatol worked as a draftsman for the HNTB architectural firm in Bryn Mawr for many years.  Later, he managed a hobby store on Rising Sun Avenue in Philadelphia.  During this time, he began to have difficulty walking because of exposure to defoliants (Agent Orange) while in Vietnam.

In 1987 he moved to Yonkers, New York, and in 1990 he received his Associate’s degree in Applied Science and Electrical Technology from Westchester Community College.  In 1992 he returned to Philadelphia.

While his mobility continued to decrease, Anatol also dealt with war-time post-traumatic stress.  This never stopped him, however, from being an active member of the veteran community.  He found support and friendship through several organizations including the Northeast Philadelphia Vet Center in Olney. He was a life member and 2004 Veteran of the Year award recipient of the Naomi Chapter 15 of Philadelphia of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV).  He attended many reunions across the U.S. with the Vietnam Triple Deuce, an organization for veterans who served in his military unit.  He was also a volunteer along with Dorothea DiGiovanni, his longtime friend and companion, with the Graterford Veterans Chapter 466 of the Vietnam Veterans of America.

Anatol, known as Tony by his many friends and neighbors, will be remembered for his generosity, thoughtfulness, heartfelt laugh and sense of humor.  He loved photography, especially the workings of nature and astronomy.  Despite his physical limitations, his mind remained sharp.  Digital technology enabled him to indulge his never-ending curiosity as he explored the world and its infinite offerings virtually.

Anatol is survived by his brother Walter (Mary), his niece Natalka (Jens) Koch and their children Alexander, Nicholas and Anna, and his niece Christina Kononenko.

Anatol's family will greet friends on Wednesday, February 2, 2022, at 9 AM at the Fletcher-Nasevich Funeral Home.  Requiem Services will be sung at 9:30 AM.  Burial will follow at Washington Crossing National Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Anatol’s name to:  Naomi Chapter 15, DAV

c/o Commander Leonard M. Johnson, 1214 West Oxford Street  Philadelphia PA 19122.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Anatol Kononenko, please visit our floral store.