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O lga Kupchin “I believe that every woman has a responsibility to herself and to society as a whole to de velop her potentials to their full est degree.” This conviction ear ly in life led Olga Kupchin to es tablish her present successful law practice in New York City. She still believes it. Daughter of the Reverend Vladimir and Mrs. Theodosia Kupchynski, she came to the United States in 1925 when the family migrated from Ontario, Canada. There were three broth ers and a sister. Reverend Kupchynski came from a long line of clergymen, and as a young man switched from the study of medicine to theology. When he died in 1958 he had been a Ukrainian Presby terian minister for 40 years. He had instilled an understanding of Ukrainian tradition in his chil dren, insisting that without that understanding the children would not be “complete persons.” “We spoke only Ukrainian at home,” Miss Kupchin recalls. “My father demanded that we all be proficient in the language of our forebearers.” An intelli gent father, Rev. Kupchynski also encouraged the two girls and their brothers to further their education in a profession. Thus, Olga and her sister Helen both graduated from Hunter College where they majored in History and Political Science. They both received their Law Degrees from New York Univer sity. Eventual dissatisfaction with limited duties and assignments in a major law firm shortly af ter Worid War II led both young lawyers to open their own office, Kupchin & Kupchin, in the midst of the Ukrainian community in New York City. There they prac ticed together until Helen Kup- chin’s eventual retirement in 1963. “When we opened our own of fice, we were uncertain at the start about our fees,” Olga re calls today, “so we often oper ated on a barter system, espe cially if our client was in busi ness — butcher, baker and the like.” Miss Kupch i n, who practices in all branches of Civil Law, to day specializes in Estate prac tice and Real Property transac tions. Because of her upbringing in a thoroughly Ukrainian atmos phere and her proficiency in the Ukrainian language, she is per haps doubly equipped to be in sympathetic and close communi cation with her Ukrainian clien tele who today make up more than 85% of her practice. “The’re wonderful, complete ly honest people,” she says, “friendly and quick to under stand.” The influence of her childhood home are perhaps at the base of her intense present-day interest in books, particularly historical works and theology. She is keen ly interested in Ukrainian tradi tions and the backgrounds of other ethnic groups. Good con versation, in her opinion, is one of the finest entertainments. “We Americans of Ukrainian descent can best serve our heri tage,” she says, “by acquainting and then leading our non-Uk rainian friends through the wealth of our Ukrainian tradi- ditions. I never miss an oppor tunity to attempt doing just this, or in many other instances to correct misinformation about us. Her very busy law practice doesn’t prevent her from follow ing up on her first credo; the development of one’s potentials. She attends art classes, paints in oils and water-colors well. She is also learning to play the gui tar. In addition she continues her work with the Ukrainian Pres byterian congregation founded by her father. She sings in the church choir and in the past was a member of the Bandurist Choir under the direction of Pro fessor George Kirichenko. She is also a member of the Ukrainian Lawyers Association and parti cipates in the activities of the lo cal Republican Club. A firm believer in equal rights for women, Miss Kupchin holds that every woman professional can and should compete in this ‘man’s world’ by pursuing her goals to the best of her ability. “You cannot, of course, lose your femininity in so doing. That would lose you your dignity,” she says. “When I first started law practice, I had to learn how to face up to some very strong men in law as just another law yer. I demanded and attained equal footing, and made them understand that though I am a woman, I am first and foremost a lawyer in the courtroom,” the very feminine, blonde and beau tifully coiffed and dressed Miss Kupchin added. With someone as busy as she vacations are very important. She generally spends them trav eling far and wide — the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Car ibbean, the Near and Middle East, not to mention North Af rica. “Though I’ve been to Europe twice for extensive visits, I haven’t yet visited the Ukraine,” she says wistfully. “Perhaps, one day, when travel restrictions are eased there, I’ll be able to visit the homeland my parents spoke of so lovingly. I certainly hope so.”—Alexander Piznyk. НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ — ГРУДЕНЬ, 1966 2 5 M iss O lga K aipchm , a tto rn e y -a t-la w in N ew Y o rk C ity
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