Dr. Vadim Michael Schaldenko Obituary (1944 - 2022)

Dr. Vadim Michael Schaldenko, age 77, a resident of Dracut, passed away at his home on Sunday, March 27, 2022. He was born in Salzburg, Austria in a displaced persons camp on November 20,1944 and was the son of the late Michael and Tamara (Kashina) Schaldenko. His parents were from Ukraine. At the age of 6 he emigrated with his parents via boat to the United States, settling in Newark, NJ. He graduated from Seton Hall Preparatory School in West Orange, NJ and furthered his education at Seton Hall College where he majored in biology. Vadim attended medical school at Hahnemann College & Hospital in Philadelphia and completed his medical and surgical residency there as well. His college and medical school career was based on full academic and athletic scholarships which, as his diary points out, were achieved with hard work but at an emotional and physical cost. Vadims love for running proved to be his true passion. He was the New Jersey State Champ in the mile relay, individual 1000 yard run, and Champion in the Penn Relay 1 mile in 1962 & 1963. In 1977 he established a general surgical practice in Dracut, MA and was affiliated with St. Josephs Hospital, Saints Memorial Hospital, and Lowell General Hospital before retiring in 2015. Vadim loved reading, sailing, woodworking, photography, art history, flying small airplanes, collecting hats, and watching the birds eat the fruit from his plum-cherry tree. Fiercely proud of his Ukrainian heritage he collected Ukrainian cultural items including books and art. In 2010 he proudly edited a resource book in English, Ukrainian Contributions to the World. Vadim is survived by 5 children, including Tanya Flagg of Dunbarton, NH, Denise Hendershot of Bow, NH, and Lucia Schaldenko of Oceanside, CA; his 8 grandchildren, including Chase Flagg, Vita Flagg, Luciana Hendershot, and Roselle Hendershot; he also leaves behind his close friend Michael Hotz, a fellow brother-in-arms Cossack. Visiting hours will be held on Saturday, April 2nd from 1pm to 3pm at the Dracut Funeral Home, 2159 Lakeview Avenue, Dracut. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Ukrainian Research Institute at Harvard University, https://huri.harvard.edu/about OR to a local womens shelter. Service Details Visitation When April 2, 2022 1:00pm - 3:00pm Location Dracut Funeral Home Address 2159 Lakeview Ave. Dracut, MA 01826