Founder of Ukrainian CU, International CU Figure, Dies

CHICAGO – Omelan Pleszkewyex, who co-founded of Selfreliance Ukrainian American CU in 1951 with just $500, died here last week at 99. Pleszkewycz, a Ukrainian immigrant who fled the Nazi European advances in 1949 to come to America, served as the credit union’s first treasurer and CEO from 1951 to 1978 as he became a leader of the local Ukrainian-American community. He and others began the credit union–which has grown to almost $500 million in assets–at the local Ukrainian social club and deposited the pooled funds in a local bank, before creating their own facility. Pleszkewycz also helped foster other of the nation’s Ukrainian credit unions, as head of the Ukrainian American credit unions from 1966 to 1977, then as president of the World Council of Ukrainian CUIs, from 1977 to 1987. After he retired form administrative duties, he remained on the staff and worked five days a week until three years ago, when he cut back to three days a week.