27 Jun 2004: Mary Lesawyer, a former opera singer and wife of former longtime president of the Ukrainian National Association Joseph Lesawyer, died here [Orlando, FL] June 13. She was 91. She was born in Shamokin, PA, October 8, 1917. After studying at The Juilliard School, she embarked upon an operatic career that spanned two decades and took her to various venues in the United States, Canada, South America and Europe. A lyric soprano, Mrs. Lesawyer was affiliated with the New York City Opera. She appeared in productions of "Carmen," "La Traviata," "Madame Butterfly," "Manon," "The Marriage of Figaro," "The Consul," "Ariadne auf Naxos" and other operas, including four American operas - "Susannah," "The Ballad of Baby Doe," "Street Scene" and "Six Characters in Search of an Author" - that were presented during the NYCO's 1960 nationwide tour that covered 20 cities. Mrs. Lesawyer also performed at countless Ukrainian American community functions through the years, appearing in various concerts and operas. Among her credits in Ukrainian operas are roles in Mykola Lysenko's "May Night," Semen Hulak-Artemovsky's "Zaporozhian Kozak Beyond the Danube," Mykola Arkas's "Catherine" and Paul Pecheniha-Ouglitzky's "The Witch." She was active in Ukrainian National Association and Ukrainian National Women's League of America, among other community organizations. Mrs. Lesawyer was known also for her active involvement in numerous community endeavors at the side of her husband, who served in roles as diverse as UNA supreme president (1961-1978) and before that as vice-president (1950-1954, 1958-1961); vice-president of Ukrainian Congress Committee of America; vice-president of World Congress of Free Ukrainians; and executive director of Shevchenko Memorial Committee, to name a few. The Lesawyers lived for many years in Scotch Plains, NJ, before moving to Venice, FL, after their retirement. They were members of Presentation of the Most Holy Mother of God Ukrainian Catholic Church in North Port, FL. Most recently they resided at an assisted living facility in Orlando, FL. Funeral liturgy at St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Apopka, FL, Rev. Ivan Kubishyn officiating. Burial at a later date at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery in Annville, PA. Surviving are Mrs. Lesawyer's husband, Joseph; as well as many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. [Ukranian Weekly]
27 Jun 2004: Mary Lesawyer, a former opera singer and wife of former longtime president of the Ukrainian National Association Joseph Lesawyer, died here [Orlando, FL] June 13. She was 91. She was born in Shamokin, PA, October 8, 1917. After studying at The Juilliard School, she embarked upon an operatic career that spanned two decades and took her to various venues in the United States, Canada, South America and Europe. A lyric soprano, Mrs. Lesawyer was affiliated with the New York City Opera. She appeared in productions of "Carmen," "La Traviata," "Madame Butterfly," "Manon," "The Marriage of Figaro," "The Consul," "Ariadne auf Naxos" and other operas, including four American operas - "Susannah," "The Ballad of Baby Doe," "Street Scene" and "Six Characters in Search of an Author" - that were presented during the NYCO's 1960 nationwide tour that covered 20 cities. Mrs. Lesawyer also performed at countless Ukrainian American community functions through the years, appearing in various concerts and operas. Among her credits in Ukrainian operas are roles in Mykola Lysenko's "May Night," Semen Hulak-Artemovsky's "Zaporozhian Kozak Beyond the Danube," Mykola Arkas's "Catherine" and Paul Pecheniha-Ouglitzky's "The Witch." She was active in Ukrainian National Association and Ukrainian National Women's League of America, among other community organizations. Mrs. Lesawyer was known also for her active involvement in numerous community endeavors at the side of her husband, who served in roles as diverse as UNA supreme president (1961-1978) and before that as vice-president (1950-1954, 1958-1961); vice-president of Ukrainian Congress Committee of America; vice-president of World Congress of Free Ukrainians; and executive director of Shevchenko Memorial Committee, to name a few. The Lesawyers lived for many years in Scotch Plains, NJ, before moving to Venice, FL, after their retirement. They were members of Presentation of the Most Holy Mother of God Ukrainian Catholic Church in North Port, FL. Most recently they resided at an assisted living facility in Orlando, FL. Funeral liturgy at St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Apopka, FL, Rev. Ivan Kubishyn officiating. Burial at a later date at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery in Annville, PA. Surviving are Mrs. Lesawyer's husband, Joseph; as well as many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. [Ukranian Weekly]
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