Dr. Michael (Mykhailo) Bilyk, PhD

Dr. Mykhailo Bilyk PhD, a resident of Langhorne, PA, passed away on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. He was 98 years old.

Born in Svystilnyky, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, he was the son of the late Stepan and Evdokia (Lytwyn) Bilyk and had three brothers – Alexander, Bohdan (who died in infancy), and Myron.  At a young age, Mykhailo was separated from his family during WWII in Europe.  He never saw his father or younger brother Myron again.

In 1951, he was awarded a scholarship to the University of Madrid in Spain, where he obtained a doctorate in economics.  He immigrated to the United States in 1958 and settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, reuniting with his mother and older brother Alexander, who immigrated several years prior.  Unfortunately, his father died in 1957, shortly before Mykhailo’s arrival.

He met his beloved wife, Oksana Struk, on the steps of their church in Philadelphia.  They married in 1961 and raised three children - Roman, Irena, and Marta.  It was very important to them that their children be raised as proud, patriotic Ukrainians.  They instilled in them a strong Ukrainian heritage, teaching them to speak their native language, appreciate their culture and traditions, and enriched their lives by encouraging their active participation in the Ukrainian community. 

Tragically, in 1988, his wife Oksana suddenly and unexpectedly passed away.  This was an immeasurable loss that would affect him and his children for the rest of their lives. 

Mykhailo spoke several languages fluently and started his career working as a language instructor for Berlitz School of Languages in Philadelphia, PA.  Until 1976, he coordinated and supervised multiple branches of Berlitz schools in Philadelphia, Bryn Mawr, and Abington.  Subsequently, he continued working for Berlitz Financial Corporation in Princeton, New Jersey, as a Manager of Administrative Services. In 1999 (at the age of 73), he retired after 41 years of service. 

He was an active member of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, the Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center, and other Ukrainian organizations.  For many years, he taught Ukrainian Culture at the Saturday school “Ridna Shkola”.  He tried to instill in his students the same love and appreciation he had for our rich heritage.  Music and singing were also an important part of Mykhailo’s life, and it brought him great joy to be a long-time original member of the Ukrainian male chorus “Prometheus”.  He was a vibrant man with a great sense of humor, who loved animals, Hershey Kisses, and Philadelphia sports teams, especially the Flyers.

Mykhailo is survived by his children Irena, Marta, and Roman.  As the last remaining patriarch of the Bilyk family, he will be missed by the entire extended Bilyk/Shatynski family and his relatives in Ukraine. 

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center (UECC) in Jenkintown, PA, (https://www.ueccphila.org/) and/or the United Ukrainian American Relief Committee (UUARC) in Philadelphia, PA (https://www.uuarc.org/). Please indicate on your donation “In Memory of Michael Bilyk”.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dr. Michael (Mykhailo) Bilyk, PhD, please visit our floral store.