The Obituaries of January*

Summary

Mr. Miles "Skip" Svenskaya, a successful Ukrainian-born contractor and co-founder of Westville Contracting, Inc., passed away suddenly on January 28, 2020, due to a heart attack.

Abstract

The obituary announces the unexpected death of Mr. Miles "Skip" Svenskaya, a prominent figure in the Westville area known for his entrepreneurial spirit and contributions to the construction industry. Born on May 20, 1983, and having immigrated to the U.S. from Ukraine in 2009, Svenskaya, along with his friend and business partner Josef Kolisnyk, established a thriving contracting company that played a significant role in the region's economic recovery post-2008 financial crisis. Despite early challenges, their company grew substantially, completing notable projects such as the Sterling Heights subdivision. Svenskaya's personal life was marked by his marriage to Oksana Svenskaya, a middle school math teacher, and the birth of their two sons. The family had recently settled into a new home built by his own company. The obituary concludes by requesting privacy for the family during this difficult time and notes that funeral details will be shared later.

Opinions

The obituary conveys a sense of admiration for Svenskaya's resilience and entrepreneurial success, particularly in the face of economic adversity.
It reflects on the positive impact of Svenskaya's work, highlighting the growth of his company and its role in the community's development.
The use of a stock photo and the disclaimer about the fictional nature of the obituary suggest an intent to maintain privacy and respect for the actual individuals involved.
The mention of Svenskaya's minor health issues prior to his death may imply a recognition of the unpredictability of life and the importance of health awareness.

The Obituaries of January*

Mr. Miles “Skip” Svenskaya…… May 20, 1983 — January 28, 2020

We regret to announce the sudden death of Mr. Miles Svenskaya, more well-known throughout the greater Westville area as Skip, this morning. The cause of death is reported to have been a heart attack. Mr. Svenskaya had had two minor infarctions within the past three years but seemed to be in good health.

Mr. Svenskaya built his contracting company from a two-man operation in 2010 to one of the leaders in the industry today employing over 25 architects, engineers, contractors, and skilled laborers. Westville Contracting, Inc. was founded by Mr. Svenskaya and his partner, Josef Kolisnyk, shortly after the two friends moved to the U.S. from Ukraine in 2009. What was an economic disaster for many was seen as an opportunity by the two young men fresh from the dire circumstances of life in Kherson, Ukraine in the early 2000s. They were able to obtain work visas through family members already settled in the area and Mr. Svenskaya met his wife, Oksana, here in Westville.

The company went through difficulties early on, but with only the two men working at the time and not drawing salaries, Westville Contracting, Inc. became competitive quickly. As this part of the country began to rebound from the housing and financial crisis of 2008/09, Mr. Svenskaya and Mr. Kolisnyk found themselves positioned to take on bigger and bigger contracts. The company came into its own after successfully completing the new subdivision, Sterling Heights, in 2015. While this was small in comparison to other nearby housing communities, it was an extremely ambitious undertaking for the fledgling company and by bringing the project in on time and under budget, their reputation was secured.

Mr. Svenskaya met his wife, Oksana, at a family gathering in 2016 and the two married in 2017. Ms. Svenskaya teaches middle school math at St. Gregory School and gave birth to two sons in 2018 and early 2019. The family had recently moved into a new home designed and built by Westville Contracting, Inc.

Details regarding the funeral will be forthcoming. The family, as may be expected, is in shock and asks for privacy in their time of grief.

*This is a fictional obituary using a stock photo from a Medium-approved source.