Longtime Ansonia priest to be remembered June 25

ANSONIA — A longtime priest who helped create the Griffin Hospital Pastoral Care department will be memorialized on June 25 for his years of service and dedication.

The Rev. Nicholas Timpko, 78, pastor emeritus of Three Saints Russian Orthodox Church where he served for 27 years, died May 16 in Griffin Hospital in Derby. His death was not coronavirus related, according to his widow.

Arrangements are being handled by the Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home. Due to the social restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic, all funeral services are private.

Nina Kosowsky, president of Three Saints Church’s council, said Timpko will be remembered in a service conducted on June 25, 40 days after his death.

Kosowsky said she always will remember his “forward thinking” in making sure the 125-year old Howard Avenue church, which has about 175 parishioners, has a future.

“He was instrumental in establishing our maintenance trust fund,” said Kosowsky, a Shelton resident. “He convinced our parishioners of its importance and through their donations we have a fund that allows us to use the interest and dividends for repairs and restorations. He was always thinking of our future.”

Timpko was born in Centralia, Pa., and graduated from St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in May 1962. Over the years, he served in Russian Orthodox parishes in Altoona, Ganister and Lykens, Pa.; St. Michael’s Church in Chicago and St. Mary’s Cathedral in Minneapolis before coming to Ansonia’s Three Saints Russian Orthodox Church.

He was known for his fluency in Russian, Slavonic and Greek which led to him directing choirs during his early days in the priesthood. He also had a passion for iconography.

“He created a class to teach people how to write (paint and draw) Icons,” Kosowsky said. “One of his Icons is in the chapel at Griffin Hospital.”

She credited Timpko with creating a summer day camp and summer school at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to Three Saints Orthodox Church, 26 Howard Ave., Ansonia, CT 06401; St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary, P.O. Box 130, South Canaan, PA 18459; or to St. Tikhon of Zadonsk Monastery, 175 St. Tikhons Road, South Canaan, PA 18472

Timpko