Nicholas Panko

December 19, 1926 - March 27, 2009

Nick Panko, 82, passed away March 27, 2009 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Nick served as a medic during World War II, and then returned home to attend Harpur College, where he received a BA in 1955. He later became a Specifications Engineer for the IBM Corporation in Endicott and retired after 29 years of service. Nick will be best remembered for establishing the Union Volunteer Emergency Squad, and his tireless dedication to its operation. Through the years he served as President, Secretary, Director of Public Relations, and an Emergency Medical Technician. Eventually he was honored as a life long member of the Board of Directors; and in 2000 UVES re-named the Johnson City station to Nick Panko Station.

Nick will also be remembered for his public service to the community. He was a member of the Johnson City School Board; he was Past President of Town of Union Taxpayers Association; he served on the Citizens Advisory Bi-Partisan Committee for Town of Union; he was a life long devoted member and past Treasurer of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Orthodox Church; and a recipient of the Johnson City Sertoma Club’s “Service to Mankind Award”.

Nick was a prolific writer and contributed numerous articles to the Press and Sun Bulletin ranging from editorials on State and local politics, to the “Memory Lane” articles describing the history of Johnson City and its’ people. He loved Chinese food, golf, college basketball, good cigars, walking, spending time with his many friends, and acting as the “sidewalk superintendent” for many construction projects in the Triple Cities area.

Nick was pre-deceased by his parents, Harry and Anna Panko; two brothers, Harry and Mike; his sister in law Helen Panko; and brother-in-law, Mike Kostun. He is survived by his sister, Anna (Panko) Kostun; his sister-in-law, Marguerite Panko; four nephews and their wives, Mike and Barbara Panko, Joe and Sandi Panko, Dick and Kathy Panko, Bill and Cheri Panko; two nieces and their husbands, Cindy (Panko) and Bob Yurecka, and Donna (Kostun) and Warren Gheen. Nick also is survived by many grand nieces and nephews and several great grand nieces and nephews.

Funeral Information

Funeral services will be held Friday 10am at Dormition of the Virgin Mary Orthodox Church, 54 Baxter Street Binghamton with the Rev. Ilya Gotlinsky officiating. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. Rev. Gotlinsky will conduct a prayer service 7 pm Thursday at the Chopyak-Scheider Funeral Home, 326 Prospect Street Binghamton where the family will receive friends Thursday 2-4 and 7-9pm.

Donations Information

In lieu of flowers, consider contributing to Nick’s lifelong passion the Union Volunteer Emergency Squad, 8 S. Ave. B, Endwell, NY 13760