Obituary of George Boukydis

BOUKYDIS, George Died peacefully, September 3, 2005 at 84, after an illness fought with great spirit, in the presence and care of Margaret, his devoted wife, supporter and close companion of many decades, and of family members and others who loved him dearly. He was from beginning to end a man of his community - a native Torontonian and alumnus of Upper Canada College, who had many friends, young and old, all beneficiaries of his generous spirit and actions, and owner and chief executive of Diana Sweets, a longstanding icon and gathering place of the city. He was a Canadian who graduated from McGill University, served his country in the then-Royal Canadian Navy, and often contributed his crisply expressed and deeply held views on the proper conduct of his government to the country�s leading newspapers. He was a member of a world community of friends through his and Margaret�s extensive travels throughout Canada, the United States, and Europe which he especially loved for its rich culture and rich cuisine that he savored with a true connoisseur�s palate. More basically though, he was a man pure and simple who loved life in so many ways: loved the written word, especially books of history; loved the lighter musical delights especially Gilbert and Sullivan; loved the company of his family, and closest friends; loved humour and was always quick of wit; loved flowers of all kinds; loved his country, joking often of his gratitude that his Greek-born father �didn�t miss the boat to Canada� literally and figuratively when he arrived over a century ago; loved children who sensed his kindness and heart of gold; loved good food and wine and a table well set and his friends and family all around; loved good conversation; loved beauty in the world. Yet those who know him best may most remember him for his constancy and loyalty, his lack of pretense, his unchanging principles and unchanging nature, his stoicism in illness and his Spartan indifference to his own inconvenience and suffering, his standing his ground, and his fighting spirit. To these intimates he was a �mensch� in every way and fortunately for some who knew him he influenced their lives in ways they hope will nourish the tree of life as long as it grows. Besides Margaret and her daughter Rosemarie he will be especially remembered by his sisters Tula, Gina, and Anita, many nephews and nieces, grand-nephews and grand-nieces and his caregivers of later years Elizabeth and Jean, and many others in and outside the family not mentioned here. He lit a light in this world and for those of faith has lit one in another. Private services were held at the GRACE CHURCH-ON-THE HILL on September 7.