Dedications - back

Dedicated To: Andrew Mantycki
Dedicated By: Virginia Mantycki
Age: 68


In my heart, he’s always Tata - Daddy in English. Andy to his friends. This picture is one of the happiest memories we have of my Dad. He’s renovating our house – and in his bliss. He was a Master Craftsman and Engineering genius, not by profession, but by calling. He was a quiet spoken man, kind, humble and gentle. Very creative, resourceful and so curious about how and why things worked – especially motors of all sizes. So he’d take apart watches and car engines (without the book) and then put them together – and yes… they’d still work perfectly afterward!

Not long after he retired from the Civil Service, my Dad was diagnosed with Colon Cancer and rushed into immediate surgery. The prognosis was uncertain. He was pragmatic about the Chemo treatments - just expected they’d go well.. and they did. For a while. We were hopeful. We cherished our family time together. But some 12 months later the downturn started. Flare-ups, in and out of hospital, weight loss, weakness. Ups and downs like a yoyo. He fought on. His heart was his strength. Throughout my Dad always appreciated the care he received at Sunnybrook here in Toronto. Always a thank you, a smile or a joke for his doctors and nurses, no matter how horrid it was for him. On Fathers Day, June 19, 1988, my Dad was rushed to hospital again. He lapsed into a coma. The next weeks were a heart-wrenching blur. One day, he just woke up. We had two beautiful weeks with him - like a brilliant rainbow between two of the darkest storms imaginable. And on July 19th, my Tata passed on, his family around him. We bade farewell to his body, but his spirit is with us in our hearts forever.

I'm cycling in the Ride for Karen in honour of my Dad. Helping us to renovate our house was his "going to camp and just having fun". My Dad is always in my heart. Including today as we ride for kids with cancer so they can have a chance to go to these incredible camps and have fun with their friends... and just be kids again