Valeriu Zodian

As he is remembered by most people, my (Andrei's) father, Valeriu Zodian, was a very kind and gentle person and son of Gheorghe and Eugenia as well as brother to Zvetlana. He never hesitated in helping even those who were hostile to him and he was able to feel the childlike joy of the moment like no one else I have ever met. Professionally (PDF) he used to be a System Engineer working for Ontario Power Generation. He was also involved in several church councils (backup). On April 24, 2003, after a strenuous battle with lung cancer (diagnosed July 2002), he passed away peacefully, in his sleep, with his son and his wife by his side, under the care and supervision of the medical staff at the Humber River Hospital in the since-closed Finch location. He was buried by R.S. Kane funeral home (old dead link) at the York Cemetery of Mount Pleasant lot he had purchased a couple of years before his diagnosis, in a ceremony presented partly in Toronto Star, May 8, in a section contributed by Dee Gibney (also below). The old background on this page is used to be the photo on the front page (below) of the "Your Legacy" section (K).

He had a very strong sense of justice, and his life flew under the sign of sacrifice and goodwill. I remember him trying to be both mother and father when we lost my mother to an accident. I remember him trying hard to cook and take care of laundry even when the loss of my mother was still fresh in his mind. I remember him working in his main job overtime and keeping 2-3 more part-time jobs both in Romania and in Canada. I remember him succeeding in offering me a childhood with no material worries even while being a single dad. I remember him trying hard to help people he has hardly met. But beyond the man most people have met, I remember him in the role I have best known him - as my father. I'll remember him enthusiastically watching Jackie Chan movies, or happily driving his brand new Toyota, or enjoying nature, especially the forest and the sea, where he always found his peace. And I hope that now, high up above, he is with my mother...

UPDATE: March 2010 - I have added a few photos, as a picture is worth a thousand words for his birthday. I shall add more photos and eventually videos, as time permits. UPDATE: 2014 - the old Geocities page has long been deleted but a backup survived (LE: a short while after); updated links. There are certain controversial issues surrounding Valeriu Zodian's death - for more information, please contact Andrei Zodian.

When he passed away he was involved in a grievance filed with his union against his manager for alleged ethnic discrimination.

Additional information may be available via Valeriu.Zodian.net.