JOSEPH MICHAEL DOBROVOLNY

Condolences & Memories (5 entries)

• Joe was my second-ever boss after my graduation from University. He was a great boss, flexible, willing to listen and always looking to accentuate his employees’ strengths. I learned a great deal working for him. At the time, he instituted a great tradition of taking his entire team out for lunch every Friday. This was great for communication and also for team camaraderie. It so happened that Joe attended a staff meeting every Friday morning of his peers and managers. Joe would take notes during the staff meeting, and along with important work-related items, he’d share with the team any funny/ridiculous/strange/crazy/weird items said by various upper-level managers. It made for great comedy, and helped de-mystify ‘upper-management’ for a fresh-out-of-college engineer. For the past thirty years, I have made a note to jot down any ‘crazy’ thing said in a meeting, to ensure I could accurately share with colleagues/friends in a fun setting. Almost every time, I think back to Joe and what a great boss and person he was. - Posted by: J Smith () on: Feb 20, 2017

• Our condolences to Joe’s family – we share the loss with you. We also share the happy memories of times spent with Joe. Arriving in Winnipeg in the fall of ’68, attending University of Manitoba, and working together on our 1st job after graduation. Then the times of building “The Farm” and fixing the tractors and combines, and running the “Czechoslovak Radio” program and spending many evenings with friends in the Czechoslovak Association and, and, and. Joe always found time for more things to do, to help others and to be a good friend. We will miss you Joe! Vaclav and Jennifer Honsa - Posted by: Vaclav and Jennifer Honsa (Friends) on: Feb 15, 2017

• Joe was the mainstay of the Czech community in Winnipeg. He was passionately devoted to promoting Czech culture in Canada and as I understand it, helped create a Czech pavilion in 1968 which was the forerunner of Folklorama, which itself is the oldest multicultural festival in the world. His friendliness, good humour, interest, hard work and enthusiasm were boundless. Truly he lived to be of service to others. It is hard to imagine a world without him in it, such was his large personality. We will miss his knowledge, history, experience and contributions, but I am glad we had him for the time we did. - Posted by: Shelley Sweeney (Friend) on: Jan 14, 2017

• It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Joe Dobrovolny. We remember Joe from our days in Winnipeg. Although it has been some 45 years since last we saw him, his optimism and zest for life is what has stayed with us. A city kid from Czechoslovakia, he built his house in rural Manitoba, where he was the architect, general contractor and hired labour all at once. May we express our heartfelt condolences to the entire family. Norah and Milos Jancik - Posted by: Norah and Milos Jancik (Friends) on: Jan 12, 2017

• It’s terrible to hear about your loss and I express my sincere sympathy to you and your family.. Karel and Jasna Ocko with Family... - Posted by: Karel Ocko () on: Jan 12, 2017