Leonid Karpinich

Leonid “Leo” Karpinich, 90, of Delaware Township, New Jersey, passed away September 7, 2024, at his home in Delaware Township, New Jersey surrounded by his family. 

He was born September 20, 1933, in Zaporizhzhia Oblast in Ukraine, the oldest child of Mykola Karpinich, a mathematics Professor, and Nina Skhabryka Karpinich, a seamstress. 

Born during the Holodomor, Leonid and his family lived in various Oblasts in Ukraine before his family fled the Soviet and Nazi regimes occupying Ukraine during WWII. The family of five made their way through Europe by horse and wagon hiding in Romania, Hungary and what is now the Czech Republic. In late 1945, Leonid and his family went to live in Lysenko Displaced Person Camp in Hannover, Germany. He and his family stayed in Lysenko until they went to a transition camp in the fall of 1950 near the Port of Bremerhaven in Germany. The family departed the Port of Bremerhaven aboard the S.S. Sturgis on January 3, 1951, and arrived in the port of New York on January 17, 1951. Leo often recalled his father gathering the family on the deck of the S.S. Sturgis to see the Statue of Liberty as it came into view. The family went on to reside in the East Oak Lane section of Philadelphia. 

Leo attended various primary schools in Ukraine, he went on to attend high school both abroad and in the United States, Olesia Gymnasium in Lysenko Displaced Persons Camp in Hannover, and then Northeast High School in Philadelphia from which he graduated in 1952.

Leonid became an American citizen in 1953 and served in the United States Air Force from March 1953 to March 1957. He was stationed in Japan during the Korean War, where he reported he spent most of his time flying a desk. While in Japan, he climbed Mt. Fuji, earning a branded marking on a climbing staff at each way point of the multi-day journey. Ever the utilitarian, he later cut the staff in two, to properly hold open his apartment windows. He remained an Air Force Reservist until 1961. 

He graduated from Temple University in 1960 with a degree in Education. By September of 1960, he was hired to teach German at Hunterdon Central High School in Flemington, New Jersey where he taught German until 1992. Known to his students as Herr Karpinich, he was well known for stamping his foot to prompt his pupils to respond in unison. In all, he spoke Ukrainian, Polish, Russian, German, English, and some Japanese as well as some Romanian. He also furthered his education at Hofstra University and Wells College.

He enjoyed traveling, growing vegetables, fixing things, and maintained a powerful, and loving bond with his siblings. Ever the proud Grandfather, he attended many concerts, track meets, softball games, musicals, and various other activities and award ceremonies involving his six grandchildren.

Leo is survived by his wife of 59 years, Joanne Vogt Karpinich, whom he met while teaching night school German classes. The family jokes she must have gotten excellent grades. After a whirlwind courtship, they were married on July 10, 1965, at Drew Methodist Church in Port Jervis, New York. While they were dating, they discovered that the family summer house Leo, his brother, Vova, and their father built in Glen Spey, New York was a mere seven miles from Shohola, Pennsylvania where Joanne grew up. The area is full of wonderful family memories. 

Leo is also survived by his daughters: Holly and her husband, Steven; Heidi and her husband, Gideon; his brother, Volodymyr, and sister-in-law, Olena; and his beloved grandchildren Jacob, Jonah, Noah, Maria, Aiden, and Brady as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his father in 1966, his mother in 2004 as well as his younger sister, Eleonora Karpinich Adams in 2020, and brother-in-law John Kendal Adams in 2014. 

A memorial service will be held Friday, September 13, 2024, at 2:00 PM in the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington, NJ. Interment will be private in St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery, South Bound Brook, NJ. Calling hour will be held on Friday, September 13, 2024, from 1:00-2:00 PM in the funeral home.

May his memory be eternal.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Razom for Ukraine, which supports Ukrainian relief efforts in Ukraine by clicking here: https://www.razomforukraine.org//donate/