Obituary: Nicholas Joseph Sojka
Source: The Daily Progress, June 18, 2003
Contributor: Dennis Truslow, aquaair@erols.com
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(First Publication)
  Nickolas Joseph Sojka, 69, of Afton, died Monday, June 16, 2003, in a hospital 
in Wilmington, N.C.
  Arrangements with Hill & Wood Funeral Home are incomplete.

Second Publication by The Daily Progress on June 19, 2003)

  Dr. Nickolas Joseph Sojka, (69), Professor Emeritus of The University of Virginia, 
died unexpectedly Monday, June 16, 2003, in Wilmington, North Carolina.
  Born June 15, 1934, in Page, Nebraska, the son of the late Walter Sojka and Anna 
Boguz Sojka. He was a first generation American of Polish heritage. He was preceded 
in death by two brothers, Casimir and Leon Sojka.
  Dr. Sojka was a Director of the Farm Credit Bank of the Virginias. He retired as 
Professor of Medical Education after 32 years at The University of Virginia. He was 
founder and chairman of the Department of Comparative Medicine. Prior to his arrival 
at The University, he served as an Associate in Veterinary Medicine at Duke University. 
Before entering the fields of research and education he served with the USDA 
Agricultural Marketing Service in Harrisonburg, Virginia. He also practiced veterinary 
medicine in Storm Lake, Iowa. Dr. Sojka served as the Assistant Post Veterinarian at 
Fort Bragg, North Carolina and was one of the original instructors at Fort Bragg’s 
Special Warfare School. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Major. He received 
his doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Kansas State University and a Master of 
Science Degree in Surgery from The University of Virginia. He was a past President of 
the Charlottesville Kiwanis Club, Greenwood Ruritan Club and a member of the Greenwood 
Club. He was a member of Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church.
  Dr. Sojka received numerous honors, including the 1996 Veterinary Lifetime Service 
Award from the Virginia Veterinary Medical Association. He was past president of the 
Blue Ridge Veterinary Medical Association. He holds multiple patents for equipment used 
in the care of animals and has been published both nationally and internationally on 
topics including reproduction and Animal Well Being.
  He is survived by his wife, Eleanor Cox Sojka; his son Nickolas Joseph Sojka, Junior 
and his wife Lucy Purcell Sojka and their children Eleanor Purcell and Joseph Augustus 
of Laurinburg, North Carolina; his son Thomas John Sojka and his wife Kristie Hamlet 
Sojka of Earlysville, Virginia and his son Benjamin Walter Sojka of Charlottesville, 
Virginia. His siblings include Victoria Wills and Helen Miller both of Fort Worth, 
Texas; Peter Sojka and his wife Irene of Page, Nebraska; John Sojka of O’Neill, Nebraska; 
and Carl Sojka and his wife Mary Jane of Newman Grove, Nebraska. Many cousins, nieces 
and nephews.
  Dr. Sojka resided on his farm, Cliffdale, in Afton, (Nelson County), Virginia, where 
his passion for Animal Well Being and stewardship of the land are illustrated in all 
aspects of its operation. His ability for crafting local woods into wonderful creations 
also demonstrated his diverse talents.
  The family will receive friends at Hill & Wood Funeral Home on Thursday, June 19, from 
6 to 8 p.m. A funeral mass will be held at The University of Virginia Chapel on Friday, 
June 20, at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Thomas Blough officiating.
  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Building Fund at Saint Thomas Aquinas 
Catholic Church, 331 Kent Rd., Charlottesville, Va. 22903 or the Charlottesville-Albemarle 
Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 160, Charlottesville, Va. 22902.
  Hill & Wood Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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