John Andrew Sevc

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of John Andrew Sevc. Our Dad, or “Pops”, was a simple man with simple wants. Heaven was a good hotdog and a cold beer. He never met a cookie he didn’t like, (except chocolate chip) and always had a stash of nuts in the house. A weekend “Lumberjack breakfast” was a favourite treat.

Pops was born in the Slovak settlement in Bradlo, Ontario, south of Hearst. Growing up on a homestead, he was a real country boy. He loved the outdoors, hunting, sunsets and bonfires. He was big and strong for his age and worked alongside his father in the pulp camps cutting timber. The money he earned went to support the family and the farm. He was bright and eventually moved to Toronto to continue his studies in Mechanical and Industrial Technology (MIT), graduating from Ryerson in 1955.

Pops always had an eye for precision. He could spot something that was “out” by 1/8th of an inch. His career in Quality Assurance was the perfect occupation. He could fix anything, was always “rigging things up”, and was often found tinkering in the garage or digging in the garden. He spoke three different languages, with a keen ear for Slavic ones.

Upon retirement, he and his wife Virginia were able to travel extensively throughout Canada and the US, by train, cruise ship, bus and car. They made day trips to small towns for theatre productions, and festivals, and made countless trips to Ottawa. They were married for almost 60 years and had two daughters, Johana and Vanessa. They built a happy life and home. Losing Mum broke his heart. Despite that, frequent trips to the cottage for bonfires and boat rides gave him much to look forward to. His first question when returning to the city was “When do we go back?”

Please join us for a Celebration of Life on Sunday November 24, 1-5 pm at Johana’s home. RSVP to the girls. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund or the Daily Bread Food Bank would be appreciated.