Stanley Joseph Smrke

Stanley Joseph Smrke died peacefully at home on May 14, 2024 in Toronto, ON with Jazz playing in the background and loving partner Natasha Large at his side.  Stan is survived by his sister Margaret (Liam), brother Greg (Patricia), nephew Chris (Vanessa), nieces Alannah (Ross), Brianna (Farshad), nephew Aaron and great nephew Keon (Brianna and Farshad).  He is predeceased by his sister Christina, father Joseph and mother Mary.  Stan was born on Feb 5, 1951 in Toronto. While living in his childhood home on Morrison Ave., he attended Hughes Public School. Following the family’s move to Smithwood Dr., he attended Bloorlea Middle School and Burnhamthorpe Collegiate Institute where he achieved Ontario Scholar status.  Stan attended the University of Toronto for one year in the Math, Physics and Chemistry Program and later graduated from The DeVry Institute of Technology before starting a job at Litton Systems. 

Stan completed a Technical Writing program at Humber College in 2011 and continued on as a Project Coordinator and Technical Writer at various firms until his retirement in January 2020.  Although Stan was innately a science and computer nerd, his early love of playing blues and rock guitar reinspired his retirement purchase of the Gibson SG which he continued to “kanoodle” on.  His own self-description of being ”a card-carrying member of the Pollyanna Society (irrepressible optimism), is accurate, as all who met him would know.  A gentle man with a refined intellect, he had a natural and insatiable love of “Language”, be it English, Latin (medical especially), French, Spanish and Music.  It’s no coincidence that he spent the remaining 30 years of his career as a Technical Writer. 

He met Natasha in June 1991 in his best friend John’s backyard and they shared their rich mid-life years over their love for weekly exploration of Live Toronto and travel Jazz, Formula 1 races,  and their yearly thirst for another travel destination, campground, or road trip to venture on.  A Celebration of Stan's life is planned for Sunday, July 14.  

Natasha would like to give special thanks to Home and Community Care Support Services for their relentless skills, personal assistance and compassion shown through Stan’s final days in the comfy surroundings of home.  

If you are intending to make a donation in Stan’s honour, the deserving charity, Yonge Street Mission in Cabbagetown, is one that Stan and I have supported for years.