Kazimierz Karwowski

We are sad to announce the peaceful passing of Kazimierz “Kaz” Karwowski at Copernicus Lodge, Toronto, on October 10, 2020 at the age of 90 years.

Kazimierz was pre-deceased by his beloved wife of 39 years, Sybil “Billie”, his brother Tadeusz and sister Leokadia. He will be sadly missed by his children Eva (Dhansukh) and Marek (Isabelle), grandchildren Nicolas and Sebastien, step granddaughter Kelly (Dilhan) and step great grandchildren Griffin and Beatrice. He is fondly remembered by his loving companion and travel partner, Jadwiga, and leaves behind niece Teresa (Peter) of Newmarket, niece Krysia (Steve) and nephews Julius (Clare) and George of England, sister-in-law Ann of Scotland, and sister-in-law Ksenija of Austria.

Born in Wielkopolanka, Poland, near the city of Dubno, to Jan and Zofia Karwowski, Kazimierz was nine years old when the family was forcibly taken from their home on February 10, 1940, loaded onto cattle cars and exiled to a Siberian labour camp, an experience shared by thousands of other families. The hardships and horrors during these 2 years were unimaginable. Following Amnesty in 1942, Kaz, with his mother and sister, journeyed through a series of refugee camps, from Uzbekistan to Persia (Iran), then on to India, Kenya, and finally Uganda, where scouting offered numerous adventures for a teenage boy. He reached England in 1948, completed his education at London University in engineering, and met his future wife Sybil “Billie”, a Trinidadian student attending Chelsea Art College. Kazimierz, Billie and their 2 young children emigrated to Canada in 1967 and settled in Toronto.

In his professional life, Kaz enjoyed a long, successful career as a structural engineer with Cooper Consultants Ltd. (later Cooper Karwowski Consultants Ltd.). He was responsible for overseeing structural design for office towers, residential highrise buildings, schools, seniors’ homes, and many other significant building projects across Toronto.

As a member of the Boulevard Club, Kaz enjoyed sailing, and playing tennis and badminton with family and friends over many years. Following Billie’s passing in 1996, he continued to busy himself with work, hosting Sunday dinners for his family, and assuming important Grandpa duties. In his later life, he was fortunate to meet Jadwiga, with whom he shared a love of music, especially opera, and travelling in Europe and to the Caribbean islands. He reluctantly took retirement at 80 years old.

Kazimierz will always be remembered for being a kind man, a gentle soul, who treated all with fairness and respect, a man with a sense of humour who loved life. He was always the optimist, and considered other’s needs and worries before his own. Perhaps his childhood and teenage experience of wartime has shaped his character more than anything else. From a place of fear and suffering as a deportee, he came to experience, as a refugee in distant lands, immense kindness, hospitality, and compassion. He had a deep appreciation of the beauty of the various landscapes, people and cultures he encountered as a young man.

In keeping with his wishes, cremation has taken place and a celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of visitation, donations to the Canadian Red Cross would be appreciated.