Irma Pylyshenko’s story starts back in May of 1938, or according to the U.S., Polish, and German governments — June 1938. The Hawthorne at St. John’s Meadows resident says she has two birthdays for a “very interesting reason.”

Irma was born in Poland to the Töpper family — a German family whose history in Poland goes back 200 years. She says that her great, great-grandfather Johann Töpper built the first church in the small town of Prudnik, Poland, after asking the German king for permission. “Our family was very happy there for a long time,” reflects Irma. Unfortunately, however, their time in Poland would not last. In 1944, Irma and her whole family were displaced by the Nazis.

“It was during the time of the Blitzkrieg and most people don’t know this,” says Irma, “but Hitler wanted the Germans out of Poland.”

After their family’s journey via horse and buggy to Germany, Irma enrolled in a school.  She says her favorite subjects were rhythmic gymnastics and English. “I have always loved the English language,” says Irma.

During this time Irma’s father was being held in a work camp. He and Irma’s mother corresponded by letters that were sent through the Red Cross.

“There was one time that my mother didn’t hear back from him,” says Irma. News of her father’s death came from a friend in the work camp who Irma says, “worked very hard to get us that letter.”

With Irma’s father gone, her mother prepared to immigrate to America. “She realized she needed my birth certificate so we could go,” explains Irma. Unfortunately, during the family’s dismissal, Irma’s birth certificate was lost, so Irma’s mother and aunt set out on a trip back to Poland to get a new copy.

“I think of these two beautiful and strong women, on their own, going through Nazi Germany,” says Irma. The pair got a new copy of Irma’s birth certificate at her hometown’s seminary, but upon their return to Germany, Irma’s mother realized she had given the priests the wrong birthdate.

“So, my family knew my birthdate, but Germany knew my other one in June,” laughs Irma. With a new birthdate, Irma and her family moved to Michigan, where relatives had settled. Irma went to high school and worked in a meat factory to save money to move back to Germany.

“I wanted to finish my rhythmic gymnastics degree.”

Following her high school graduation in 1954, Irma set out to New York City. From there she sailed back to a divided Germany and completed her degree. Once completed, Irma moved back to Michigan with the intention of teaching dance.

“The degree was useless here to teach so I went to an American university,” says Irma. She enrolled at Wayne State University and earned a teaching and dance degree in three years. At that time, she met Garth Fagan, a choreographer known for his work for “The Lion King.”

The dancers performed in the same school company and remained close in the years that followed. After graduating, Irma began teaching dance at a Detroit school. “Back then dance was part of the physical education,” says Irma.

Because of her talent and expertise, Irma was asked to spend the year writing a dance major curriculum at SUNY Brockport. Irma says that “only four universities during that time had dance as a major so we built [the program].” She enlisted the help of friend and colleague Garth Fagan. The two made a temporary-intended move from Michigan to Brockport, New York. What was only supposed to last a year turned into a lifetime because Irma happened to fall in love.

“I met Mirko at Brockport,” reminisces Irma. Wolodymyr “Mirko” Pylyshenko was a professor and chairman of Brockport’s Art and History Department. The two met at a party and “instantly connected.”

“He was from Ukraine, so we shared experiences from different sides of the Iron Curtain,” says Irma. She says she knew he was “the one” after the first date. They married a year later and Irma adopted Orysia, Mirko’s daughter from his first marriage. The family lived with Mirko’s father. By the time the couple welcomed their first child, Katja, the house was a melting pot of culture.

“There was German and Ukrainian spoken in that house,” says Irma. “And when my family visited, a bit of Polish.”

When Katja was old enough to speak and walk, the family traveled together throughout Europe and East Asia. Irma fell in love with her husband’s passion for collecting and preserving Ukrainian art and culture, which was at risk due to the Soviet Union’s control. So, the family went on many trips, oftentimes “smuggling” Ukrainian books and art back to the U.S. The couple amassed 15,000 books and pieces of literature, although Irma’s favorite finds were traditional Ukrainian Folk dance costumes.

“I loved the intricate details and embroidery of the costumes and there weren’t many left,” she says.

Over the years the couple gave more and more of their collection away to libraries and universities. Orysia moved to Washington, D.C. to start a family and Katja studied dance and is a professor in Connecticut. Like her parents, she is an activist for human rights and Ukraine — working with the United Nations for peace education programs.

The couple downsized to a smaller house in Brighton and in 2021, Mirko sadly passed away due to Covid-19. Irma suffered from a fall, resulting in injuries to her ankles and was at St. John’s Rehabilitation for a month. She says, “They were great at the Home and I am stronger now.”

“I am not good living on my own and after my fall, I came here (the Hawthorne at St. John’s Meadows),” Irma says.

Irma moved to the Hawthorne for enhanced assisted living in March of 2024 and says that she is “happy here.”

“I love Michael and everyone takes good care of me,” she says.

St. John’s Meadows Community Life Specialist Michael Noble-Rosema leads social recreation at the Hawthorne and has bonded with Irma over their shared love of dance and theatre.

“She is great,” says Michael. “I didn’t know about her connection to Garth Fagan and getting him to Rochester — she is amazing.”

Irma’s passion for preserving history and support of fellow artists extends beyond the world of dance and Ukraine culture. She recently donated a sculpture by Rochester artist and professor Bill Stewart to St. John’s. Bill Stewart (1941-2020) was a friend of Irma’s and was well-revered in the Rochester art scene for his folk-like metal sculptures. The donated sculpture can be seen outside the entrance of the Hawthorne.

Irma says that “talking about Ukraine and my past is important,” and that she is always happy to do so with people like Michael at the Hawthorne.