In Loving Memory of Kostyantyn Semchynskyy

It is with great sadness that we write to inform you that members of our West Lafayette and Purdue community lost their father, husband and son on Sunday. Kostyantyn Semchynsky died fighting for his country, Ukraine. His wife Olesia Vasylenko, son Glebe (age 13 in 8th grade), daughter Solomia (age 8 in 3rd grade) and mother Nataliya Semchynska (retired Purdue Professor) live in West Lafayette on Pathway Lane. Olesia, Glebe, and Solo fled Ukraine last February when the war started. After a long and challenging journey, they arrived in West Lafayette to stay with Glebe and Solomia's grandmother Nataliya and grandfather Joe Uhl, also a retired Purdue professor who sadly passed away recently as well. Kostyantyn stayed behind to serve his country as war broke out. More information about the family and their journey to the United States can be found in this article.

Kostyantyn worked as a university professor in Ukraine before the war. He loved his family and communicated with them as much as he possibly could when he was on the front lines. Sadly, Kostyantyn was not able to make it to the end of the war to reunite with his family.

His family needs prayers from our community and also financial support to pay for funeral costs, the children's education, and living expenses moving forward.

I am the mother of Ava (3rd grader) and we know this wonderful family due to Ava being good friends with Solo. My husband (Jacob Ricker-Gilbert) and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts.