Our dedicated father, grandfather, great-grandfather and uncle died peacefully at home in Toronto. A knowledgeable lawyer (University of Toronto Class of ’58) who practiced law until age 91, he was an active member of the Ukrainian diaspora community and a keen skier, gardener, and lover of nature and the arts. Predeceased by his wife Anizia in 2005 and by 3 brothers and 2 sisters, he is survived by 2 sisters, 5 children, 11 grandchildren, a great-grandson, and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. Our family is very grateful for the support of relatives and friends during his final months, and for excellent care from St. Joseph's Health Centre and Toronto General/Princess Margaret Hospitals, and the Dorothy Ley Hospice. In lieu of flowers, we encourage donations to the Holodomor Memorial Project (http://tufoundation.ca/holodomor) or to a registered charity of your choice.
Friends may call at the Turner & Porter Yorke Chapel, 2357 Bloor St. W. (East of the Jane subway) on Wednesday from 6 to 9 p.m. with panachyda at 8 p.m., and Thursday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. with panachyda at 8 p.m. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, 4 Bellwoods Ave., Toronto, on Friday, August 10, 2018 at 10 a.m.

Tato (Dad, in Ukrainian) lived a long, rich life. He was born in Liubycha Korolivs'ka in Poland near the fluctuating border with Ukraine, and though we heard many wonderful stories of childhood, his childhood and youth were marked by the Great Depression, the death of a baby brother, and multiple displacements and much suffering caused by the Second World War. He came to Canada in 1949 as a refugee from the DP camps and encouraged - and modeled - active and sustained support for human rights and for Ukrainian self-determination throughout his life. This support for human rights was naturally focused on Ukrainian causes, but it was not limited to Ukrainian causes: Tato was always concerned with justice and with giving a helping hand to everyone, whether it was family members in trouble or the wider Canadian and global community. Dad put himself through University (BA and LLB at the University of Toronto) and he stressed that education and higher education were crucial. He was very active in the Ukrainian diaspora community, in the Ukrainian Canadian Committee, and in other community initiatives where he supported his family and his children to contribute: St Nicholas' Ukrainian Catholic Church, PLAST Scouting Association, track and field and skiing associations, the Canadian Ukrainian Foundation for the Arts, and others. He wanted his children and his grandchildren to be exposed to music, dance, art, sports, nature, community activities, and, always, to work for human rights, justice, and education. He remained closely connected to his law school colleagues and had deep knowledge and respect for the law, recognised by his being appointed Queen's Counsel (QC).

Tato had been living with Roman and his family for the past year. His cancer, heart failure, and the general frailty that even his quite extraordinary determination (some might say stubbornness) and the new knee he got several years ago could not keep quite at bay made it no longer possible to live in our family home of the past 52 years even with the help of my brothers Roman and Orest. Roman, Diana, Diana's mother Maria, the grandkids Zach, Zara, Dmytro and Danylo, friends and helpers Anya and Lida, and the many visitors who have come through or called have created a wonderful haven for the last stage of this long journey. Dad was still going to his law office and advising Roman and his clients until December 2016 and had visited Christina and Ifrah in Cape Town twice in his mid and late 80s.

Tato adored his grandchildren - the youngest, Danylko, came to visit Dido in his room first thing every morning to say hello and help him with his meds until about a month ago. He was thrilled to welcome Davey Singer - Ulana and Henry's first grandchild and his first great-grandson - into the world in January.

His final months were supported by the wonderful palliative care team of Dorothy Ley Hospice (many many thanks Vlad, to Drs Lee and Jeney, and to Aaron), and by the doctors and health workers who had cared for him over the past, quite difficult, two years - especially Dr Varga and Dr Anselm at St Joe's, Dr Skocylak, and Dr Brown and the radiation oncology team at Princess Margaret. Many thanks to the friends who have accompanied and supported our family during my father's final months, and to Fr Lobay who came to visit and pray with Tato several times over the past few weeks. Christina was fortunate to be able to spend the past two weeks with Tato, and we are so grateful that his final days and his final night were tranquil.

Tato was intensely, passionately alive. He was active and feisty till the very last days, including correcting Roman's Ukrainian grammar less than two weeks ago and, most wonderfully, sharing stories and bestowing blessings on his children, grandchildren and friends. He was out in the garden on Father's Day on June 16. May his soul rest in peace and his legacy live on in his family and community.

Vichnaya Pamiat'

In loving memory from his children Orest, Christina, Roman (and wife Diana Zarowsky), Ulana (and husband Henry Abramson), and Bohdan