After a lengthy illness, Protodeacon Vladimir (Walter) Maksimoff fell asleep in the Lord at home, surrounded by his family, on Sunday, October 14, 2012.
He was born to Nicholai and Evdokia (Dorothy Sebulsky) Maksimoff in Ellsworth, PA on December 20, 1925. He was baptized at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, Charleroi, PA. After graduation from Ellsworth High School in 1943, he served in the Army’s Asiatic-Pacific theater, stationed in Hawaii, as a teletype operator in Morse code. As corporal, he also served as a radio operator in the 145th Army Airways Communication System Squadron of the 775th Army Air Force until 1946. After further studies in electronics in Pittsburgh, he moved to Youngstown. On August 13, 1949, he married the former Mary Eodchik. He was employed at Strauss-Hirschberg, and later Ross Radio and Tony’s Television. He served as a teacher and was Director of Training at ATES Technical School and later retired from Saint Elizabeth Health Center. He enjoyed gardening, reading, and carpentry.
After completing the Late Vocation Program in the Orthodox Church of America, he was ordained to the diaconate in 1979. He was subsequently blessed to wear the skufia and kamilavka, being raised to the rank of Protodeacon. In addition to serving with numerous hierarchs, he was known for his bass voice and served as choir director at Nativity of Christ Church, Youngstown, OH, and Saint John the Baptist Church, Warren, OH, to which he was attached. With the parish’s a capella male chorus, he recorded “Falling Asleep in the Lord,” the Orthodox requiem service, still heard on Ancient Faith Radio. He also led the parish choir in recording “Come Let Us Worship,” which featured selections from Vespers and the Liturgy.
He was preceded in death by his parents and four sisters—Paraskeva (Pearl) Kadusky, an infant sister Katherine, Nena Moser, and Vera (Virginia) Soychak.
A devoted husband and father, he is survived by his wife, Mary; three daughters, Janet (Archpriest Michael) Mihalick, Claudia Maksimoff, and Pauline (Deacon David) Gemmel; and grandchildren, Alexandra (and Benjamin) Gajewski, Elana, Mary and Juliana.
Visitation will commence at Saint John the Baptist Church, 2220 Reeves Road, Warren, OH, on Wednesday, October 17, at 5:00 p.m., with the singing of the Parastas at 7:00 p.m. The Funeral Service will be celebrated by Priest jonathan Cholcher, rector of Saint John’s, and Archpriest Peter Pawlack, retired rector, on Thursday, October 18, at 10:00 a.m., followed by interment at Belmont Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in his memory be sent to Saint John the Baptist Church, 2220 Reeves Road, Warren, Ohio, 44483.
May Protodeacon Vladimir’s memory be eternal!