John Bohdan Gregorovich was born on January 24, 1927 in Vegreville, Alberta, the son of Alexander and Mary Gregorovich. The family had five children, John, Hanya, Andrew, Basil and Lesia. The family's origin is in Pokutia and Bukovina, Ukraine, and came to Canada in April 1899. The family Coat of Arms is a griffin.
Alexander Gregorovich was a founder and the first national president of the Ukrainian National Federation. During the 1920's and 1930's he was dedicated to Canada and the welfare of the Ukrainian Canadian community and opposed the Communist Party. His son John was inspired by him.
John was highly educated and intelligent. He studied at the University of Toronto, at McMaster University in Hamilton, Law at Osgoode Hall in Toronto, Comparative law at New York University, anthropology and sociology at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences of New York University and commercial law at the New York University School of Law. He was a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada (Ontario) and was called to the Bar of Leeward and Windward Islands. He wanted to become a mathematician but there was no possibility of such a career. He worked in a steel mill, foundry, private law practice, Bell Telephone and other jobs.
John was a member of several community and professional organizations. He served as the first Chairman of the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association, Chairman of Canadians for a Genocide Museum and President of the Ukrainian Canadian Business and Professional Association. He served in the Canadian Army. He was Vice-President of Ford Motor Credit. He was president of the Royal Canadian Legion of Branch 360 for 14 years.
John is the editor or author of several books. Two important ones are: A Ukrainian Canadian in Parliament: Memoirs of Michael Luchkovich. Edited by John Gregorovich, Toronto 1965. Another book is: Ukrainian Canadians in Canada's Wars. Materials for Ukrainian Canadian History, by V.J. Kaye. J.B. Gregorovich Editor. Toronto: Ukrainian Canadian Research Foundation, 1983.
In 1966 John married Elizabeth Forbes (now deceased). He was very enthusiastic about dogs, wine (he was a connoisseur of wine), listening to music, and loafing. He was a voracious reader and had an immense fund of knowledge of many subjects. He was both a patriotic Canadian and a patriotic Ukrainian.
John died on Monday, September 26, 2016. He will always be lovingly remembered by his brothers and sister, nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews and cousins.
If desired, donations to Pomich Ukraini Fund for Veterans would be welcomed, canadahelps.org/dn/14999, or call 416.763.4882. Online www.canadahelps.org/dn/14999 or call 416.763.4982.
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