Leonid Rudnytzky

Leonid Rudnytzky (September 8, 1935 – December 8, 2024) was a Ukrainian-born American linguist and professor of German, Slavic and Ukrainian studies. He was a member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, and co-editor of numerous American and Ukrainian encyclopedias. Rudnytzky died in the U.S. on December 8, 2024, at the age of 89.

He received honorary doctorates from several universities in Europe and the United States. Two weeks before his death, Metropolitan Archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia Borys Gudziak awarded Rudnytzky and his wife Irene (née Ieviņš) with the Metropolitan’s 2024 Lifetime Service Award.

Awards Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching for teaching at La Salle University in Philadelphia (U.S. – 1966) for research in Franko studies (Kyiv, Ukraine – 1993) Honorary Award of the President of Ukraine for his contribution to the development of the Ukrainian state (Kyiv, Ukraine – 1996) Basilian Humanitarian Award from the Order of Basilian Sisters (Sestry Vasilianky) (Philadelphia, U.S. – 1997) Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise – IV degree (Kyiv, Ukraine – 2003) Knight of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (U.S. – 2004) Pro Universitate Medal of the Ukrainian Free University (Munich, Germany – 2005) Diploma of Laureate and Medal of Myhailo Hrushevsky (Lviv, Ukraine – 2005)