Commander Christopher John Kolanko, Ph.D., 58, of Morgantown, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, surrounded by his loving family at home. He was born March 8, 1963, in Weirton, son of the late Edward Joseph and Bernice Barbara (Marut) Kolanko.
Dr. Kolanko most recently served as senior scientist at Leidos Inc., Frederick, Md., providing technical and scientific expertise to the USAMRDC CBRN Defense Coordinating Office. From 2016-2021, he served as the U.S. Chair of the CBRN Defense Working Group supporting DoD collaborations with the Israeli Defense Forces Medical Corps.
He reviewed patent applications from Army laboratories and provided subject matter expertise for the review of hundreds of medical research proposals and research projects. He served as the capability area manager for the DoD Radiation Health Effects Research Program.
Prior to his current position, he was the chief scientist of EyeMarker Systems Inc., Morgantown, responsible for the corporation’s research and development operations. Dr. Kolanko had over 25 years of industrial and military professional experience and was responsible for the development of CBRN threat agent and advanced medical diagnostic technologies. Dr. Kolanko graduated with a Ph.D. in genetics and developmental biology from West Virginia University and was an adjunct professor within the Departments of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering and Ophthalmology at WVU.
Prior to joining EyeMarker Systems he was an active-duty navy officer assigned to the Naval Research Laboratory and the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, directing a number of military initiatives designed to provide and develop field deployable diagnostics and biodosimetry capabilities for the military.
Dr. Kolanko was also a research scientist at Bristol-Myers Squibb and Company, Syracuse, N.Y., within the Analytical Research Division working on anti-cancer therapeutic compounds. Dr. Kolanko was a commissioned officer in the United States Navy Reserve assigned to units supporting both Navy and Marine Corps medical operations.
Chris was an avid hunter and fisherman as he enjoyed the mountains of West Virginia with his son and close friends at Smoke Hole. He was a member of The Knights of Columbus, St. Luke the Evangelist Council at Cheat Lake. He and his wife, Donna, have been coordinators of Sarah’s Table at St. John’s Church, feeding warm meals to the community. He and his wife also served as co-presidents of West Virginia for Life Mon County Chapter, continuing his parents’, Edward Joseph and Bernice Barbara Kolanko’s, pro-life legacy.
Left to cherish his memories is his wife, Donna (Truax) Kolanko, of 36 years; daughter, Kylie McGaha (Drew), of Morgantown; son, Colton Christopher Edward Kolanko, of Morgantown; siblings, Dr. Kathrine Kolanko, of Weirton, Dr. Bill (Cindy) Kolanko, of Pleasant Prairie, Wis., and Dr. Vince Kolanko (Dody), of Morgantown; nephews, Joshua (Stephanie) Kolanko, of Tampa, Fla., Danny Kolanko, of Lisle, Ill., and John Quinn Kolanko, of Prairie, Wis.; niece, Rachel (Andy) White, of Morgantown; and Anthony Kolanko, of Morgantown. He is also survived by his father and mother-in-law, Carl and Regina Truax, of Weirton; sisters-in-law, Denise (Gus) Jones, of Weirton, Deanna (Mike) Hvizdak, of Weirton, Alexis (Jay) Jones, of Weirton, Ashley (Bryant) Baum, of Las Vegas, and Emalee Hvizdak, of Murrells Inlet, S.C.; and cousins and loved ones.
Friends and family will be received at Hastings Funeral Home, 153 Spruce St., Morgantown, from 3-9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 5. Visitation will continue at St. Luke Catholic Church, 19 Jo Glen Drive, Morgantown, from 9 a.m. until the Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. with Father Biju T. Devassy as celebrant. Interment will be scheduled at a later date at The National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, Bridgeville, Pa.
In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to be made in Dr. Kolanko’s memory to WV for Life Mon County Chapter, 25 Canyon Road, Morgantown, WV 26508 and/or Wounded Warriors, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675-8517.
Condolences:
www.hastingsfuneralhome.com
