Born November 11, 1935 in Stuttgart, Germany.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Rolf on April 27, 2020 at the age of 84. He was the beloved husband and partner of Helga Piro for almost 45 years and the devoted father to Carl Guenther Piro (Jennifer), Andrea Hildegard Klimpel, nee Piro (Jeff) and Markus Hans Piro (Amy Tropea). Opa will be dearly missed by his grandchildren Ryan, Jason, Erik, Claire and little Benjamin. He leaves behind his brother Wolfgang and family in Germany and the United States (USA), his half-sister Lieselotte Asche and countless friends in Germany, Canada and the USA. Predeceased by his brother Hans and his parents Alfred and Erna Piro.

Prior to coming to Canada in 1954, Rolf served an apprenticeship in business management administration with Taylorix in Stuttgart where he applied his analytical skills to problem solve and support business decisions. From 1954 to 1981 Rolf was employed as a Cost Accountant, later succeeding to the position as Controller in an Ontario-based manufacturing company.

From 1969 to 1974 he pursued business studies at York University and the University of Toronto that earned him a professional degree as a CMA. Around this time, Rolf founded the Historical Society of Mecklenburg Upper Canada, stemming in his keen interest in history.

In the following years Rolf worked as a VP of Finance in the microwave development sector. He retired in 1991 and spent his retired life researching the history and evolution of the early industry in Ontario. In 2013 he published his book “The Early Industry of Ontario”, examining the formative role played by German-speaking settlers.

A Celebration of his life will be held in the future. Memorial donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada would be greatly appreciated.