It is with great sadness that the family announces the passing of Stefan Dudek.

Known as Tata and Dziadzia, Stefan was born in Sosnówka, Poland. In his youth, he gained prominence as a boxer, competing professionally and winning tournaments across the country.

As a professional athlete, he had the opportunity to attend the 1976 Montreal Olympics as a spectator. Shortly after arriving in Canada, he made his way to Toronto in search of a new life.
Here, he put his boxing experience to use, traveling to various cities to compete—often winning championships.

Not long after, Stefan joined de Havilland Canada, where he played a key role in overseeing the final stages of aircraft production. He remained with de Havilland (later de Havilland Bombardier) until his retirement. His love and curiosity for aviation were passed down to his daughters and granddaughter.

Outside of his passion for aviation, Steve had a deep love for history books, photography, travel, and spending countless hours playing tennis at High Park.

Stefan is survived by his former wife, Danuta; their daughters, Monika and Olivia; his grandchildren; his sister, Wiesia; his brother, Tadeusz; and his nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Maria and Bolesław, and his brother, Jurek.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 2, 2025 from 4-8 p.m. at Turner and Porter - Yorke Chapel, 2357 Bloor St. W., Toronto.

Funeral Mass will take place on Friday, October 3, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Casimir’s Church, 156 Roncesvalles Ave., Toronto. Funeral Mass will be livestreamed and available to access on https://kazimierz.click2stream.com/

Cremation and a private burial will follow at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the St. Joseph’s Health Centre Foundation (Toronto), in support of the cardiology fund.