Donald 'Bohdon' Lahanky
Born In: Zubow
Passed on: February 14th, 2014
Donald ‘Bohdon’ Lahanky, 88, of Moncton, passed away peacefully at home, with his family at his side, on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013.
Born in Zubow, Poland, he was the son of the late Joseph and Katherine (Greczylo) Lahanky from Ukraine.
He arrived in Sydney, N.S., at the age of 24, where he worked at the Sydney Steel Plant and met his wife of 60 years, Anne Wodoslawski. They were married in Sydney at the Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Church. They settled in Moncton in 1959 to raise their family.
As a hardworking entrepreneur, he founded Allsco Building Supplies in 1975, which grew to be a leading vinyl building products business in Atlantic Canada. In 1982, he also started Atlantic Commercial Properties, evolving into a successful real estate development company.
Don was a member of the Polish Corps during the Second World War. Before coming to Canada in 1949, he was stationed in England.
As a devout Catholic, he was an active parishioner at St. Augustine’s Roman Catholic Church for over 50 years.
Don knew the value of community spirit and giving back and thus supported and was involved with St. Pat’s Family Centre, St. Augustine’s Knights of Columbus, Greater Moncton Junior Achievement, St. Augustine’s parish council and building committee, YMCA and the Moncton Ukrainian Club.
He actively supported the Moncton Hospital and Dr. Georges-L. Dumont Hospital, United Way, Moncton Headstart, Habitat for Humanity, sponsored children in Third World countries and Children of Chernobyl, Moncton Boys and Girls Club, Harvest House, House of Nazareth and many more.
In addition to his endearing love for his family, Don was so very appreciative for the freedom and opportunities that Canada blessed him and his family with.
As a benevolent man, Don never forgot his Ukrainian heritage and thus provided a very compelling gift to his homeland by way of building a new church for his village, so as to give them a place for faithful worship. As Don himself said “It was an even bigger gift to me — to my heart!”
Don was especially proud of his children’s relationships in working together to build his companies and took tremendous satisfaction in creating jobs and opportunities for others.
In recognition of Don’s business accomplishments, the Greater Moncton Chamber of Commerce awarded him the very first Entrepreneur of the Year for Excellence and also the GMCC Life Time Achievement Award.
In Toronto in 1999, Don was bestowed the prestigious “Nation Building Award” by the Ukrainian Canadian Professional and Business Federation.
Don’s family life was where his happiness flowed from spending precious time with his wife, children and grandchildren.
His leisure pastimes included gardening, playing cards and doing puzzles, not to mention being a jack of all trades. He was an avid sports and soccer fan, as in his youth, his team won the Atlantic championship.
Don will be sadly missed by his loving wife of 60 years, Anne (Wodoslawski) Lahanky; his children, Nadia MacDonald (Saen), Terry Lahanky, Danica Lahanky Carroll (Paul), Natalie Geneau (Ron) and Gordon Lahanky; precious grandchildren, Larissa Blanchard (Andre), Natasha and Sarah Lahanky, Stephanie and Brittany Geneau and Joshua and Olivia Lahanky; cherished great-granddaughter, Elyse Blanchard. Don is also survived by two cousins in Sydney, Jean Madore and Anne Mills; two sisters-in-law and three nephews in the Ukraine. He was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brothers, Maurice and Peter and Uncle Paul (Boss) Lahanky, who sponsored bringing Don to Canada (Sydney, N.S.) in 1949.
Visitation at Ferguson Knowles Funeral Home, 1657 Mountain Rd,. Moncton, N.B. (506-858-1995) on Sunday, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral mass at St. Augustine’s Roman Catholic Church, Dominion Street and Mountain Road, on Monday, Feb. 18, 2013, at 10 a.m., Rev. Allison Carroll officiating. Reception in the parish hall following the mass. Interment, Fair Haven Memorial Gardens.
In Don’s memory, donations to the Canadian Cancer Society or either city hospital.
Online condolences at www.fergusonknowlesfh.com.
