Yaroslaw (Jerry) Kozak died Wednesday, February 26, 2020 at the age of 86. Yarko was born on May 5, 1933 in Lviv Ukraine to the late Severyn and Ivanna Kozak (Dolynka).
After surviving the war in displaced persons camp in Germany, he emigrated to the US, graduated from Roman Catholic High School and LaSalle College in Philadelphia, PA and married Kalyna Tatarska on December 20, 1958. Yarko served as a Captain in the US Army with the 1st Infantry Regiment and was discharged in 1960; he had a long and successful career as an auditor for the US Department of Defense.
Yarko was best known for his decades of volunteer service for the Ukrainian American Sport Center “Tryzub”. He played soccer for LaSalle College and was a member of the Tryzub team that was a finalist for the US Amateur Cup. He was devoted to making Tryzub a premier Ukrainian sport organization serving for decades as President, board member and coach. He enjoyed spending time at his summer home in Beach Haven and in the winter skiing with the entire family. He will be forever remembered as a wonderful father and grandfather and will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
Yarko is survived by his son, Taras and wife Lisa; his grandchildren, Stefan and wife Kristina, Alexander and Jamie; and great grandchildren, Christian and Kalyna.
The family will greet friends and family on Thursday, March 5 at 9:45 AM at Annunciation BVM Ukrainian Catholic Church. Panakhyda prayers will be sung at 10:45 AM and Requiem Services at 11 AM. Funeral will follow at St. Mary Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery, Elkins Park, PA.
Donations in Yaroslaw’s memory may be made to: The Ukrainian American Sport Center –Tryzub PO Box 346 Horsham PA 19044
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