Leaside Life was saddened to learn of the death on Jan. 14th of Ted Krawchuk, husband of our publisher, Lorna Krawchuk.
Ted was born on Oct. 10, 1938, in Kirkland Lake, Ont., to parents Gabrielle, née Durgensky, and Joseph Krawchuk, and grew up in nearby Larder Lake, working during his high school summers at Kerr-Addison Gold Mines Ltd. in Virginiatown.
After graduating from St. Michael’s College at the University of Toronto, he began his teaching career in Port Colborne and continued for the next 30 years with the Scarborough Board of Education, teaching science at Wexford, W.A. Porter and L’Amoreaux Collegiates, while also being involved with the Science Teachers’ Association of Ontario (STAO).
He married Lorna Hilder, from Virginiatown, in 1968. Two years later, they moved to Leaside a few months before daughter Carolyn was born. Daughter Margaret, known as Meg, arrived two years later. In 1981, they, along with their dog, Sib, moved to the small village of Cotignac in the south of France to live in a small house backing onto a cliff, before returning to Canada.
Family camping in the summer with a tent was a way to explore Canada and enjoy nature. After Ted retired, he and Lorna went on many memorable land and cruise vacations.
He always enjoyed being active. One retirement objective was to learn to swim better. To that end he spent hours over the years at the Leaside pool in early morning lane swims. He also walked, cycled and exercised regularly.
Ted was an active member of St. Cuthbert’s, Leaside Anglican Church. He was known as a super-salesman for whatever event was coming up. He was also notable for wearing an appropriately gaudy hat and for being willing to help wherever he could. He always had a smile on his face and welcoming words for all.
Ted enjoyed the years of being grandad for Graham Beurskens, Annabelle Krawchuk-Miller and Ben Krawchuk-Miller, and getting to know their fathers, Hans Beurskens and Mark Miller. He took pride in helping to raise Carolyn and Meg to be capable, independent women, and for 57-plus years of sharing adventures with Lorna.
A memorial service will be held at St. Cuthbert’s, Leaside Anglican Church, 1399 Bayview Ave. (just south of Davisville) on Sat., Feb. 14 at 11 a.m., followed by a reception at the church. The service will be livestreamed.