We are sad to announce the passing of Tap Alakorpi on February 2nd, 2025 at the age of 65. He passed peacefully after a brief and courageous battle with cancer at Credit Valley hospital with his loved ones by his side. Tap was born on March 10th, 1959 in Sault Ste. Marie Ontario, to Saara and Paul Ala-Korpi. He was a loving husband to Julienne Alakorpi (Jarvis) and devoted father to Ari Alakorpi. Tap grew up in Thunder Bay, Ontario, where he attended Hammarskjold high school and Confederation college. He retired recently as an operations director with The Keg Restaurants after a career that spanned over 35 years.
In 1986 Tap met the love of his life Julienne (Jill) through some mutual friends and they married in 1990, they moved to Mississauga as newlyweds to begin their married life together. In 2001, Tap and Jill welcomed their first and only son, Ari. Tap was Ari’s number 1 fan, his devoted baseball coach and exceptional hockey dad, driving him to and from every practice and game, promoting and supporting his hockey career, and even building an ice rink every winter in the front yard for many years. Tap was a respected and endeared member of The Keg Steakhouse forming many lifelong friendships along the way. Tap’s greatest loves were first and foremost family, (including his fur buddy, Shooter) but he also had a passion for music, sports, cars, and of course food.
Tap loved music and played several instruments. He travelled and saw many concerts with Jill. He was fiercely proud of his Finnish heritage. He cheered loudly for the blue and white, whether it was for his Finnish teams, or for the Leafs. He is survived by his wife Jill and son Ari. Also survived by his mother, Saara Ala-Korpi, and sister, Tarja Shipston (Gerry) and their children, Haley (Brenden Slongo) and Kyle Shipston (Selena Owen) as well as numerous brothers and sisters-in-law and nieces and nephews here in Canada and extended family in Finland. Tap was predeceased by his father, Pauli Ala-Korpi in 2011 and his mother in-law, Marlene Jarvis in 2019, as well as his grandparents, Yrjo and Helmi Ala-Korpi, and Augusti and Hilda Kamunen in Finland.
A celebration of life will be held at a future date.
Donations can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society or the charity of your choice.