Boris Bohun-Chudyniv

Boris Bohun-Chudyniv (85) passed away unexpectedly Thursday, October 20, 2022.  

Raconteur, adventurer and scientist, Boris was born in Kyiv, Ukraine. He and his family spent World War II in Eastern European forests trying not to be captured by either the German or the Russian armies. After the war, they spent time in a displaced persons camp in Regensburg, Germany. At the age of 12, he came to the United States, graduating from Stuyvesant High School in New York City, attending Columbia University and graduating from George Washington University in Washington, DC. Boris has always stated that he wanted to know the nature of the universe and the nature of mankind, thus he majored in Physics and Psychology. He completed graduate work in Psychology at the University of Maryland and Mathematics at Seton Hall University. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Russian Studies from American University. Boris’ main career was at the Library of Congress where he served as a Senior Research Analyst for 20 years. However, he left the Library of Congress six times during that career and was always hired back, first in the Air and Space Technology Division, later in the Federal Research Division. In between Library of Congress gigs, he worked as a dance sound technician in New York City, a professional photographer, a tenured Russian Studies professor at Morgan State University and a Physics adjunct at American University. He also found time to hunt for sunken treasure in the Gulf of Mexico, and to work in the aviation industry in San Diego, CA. 

Boris spoke six languages, three fluently. He was on the Fencing team at Columbia and was a nationally ranked table tennis player. He loved his dogs, travel, feeding the birds, and his fish pond. He was a passionate supporter of the Arts and enthusiastically attended every event he could. 

Boris is preceded in death by his mother and father. 

Boris leaves behind his loving wife Valerie and two children of whom he was very proud, Anya Miller (Laurie) and Alexander Bohun-Chudyniv (Lori). He was wild about his two grandchildren, Finley and Parker, who called him Didus.  

A Celebration of Life ceremony will be held on Friday, November 4th 7pm at the American College of the Building Arts at 649 Meeting St., Charleston, SC 29403.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Boris Bohun-Chudyniv Endowed Scholarship in Arts Management at the College of Charleston Foundation by visiting https://give.cofc.edu/Arts-Management.