ROBERT IHOR MICHAEL KARPIAK

Condolences & Memories (13 entries)

• I had the good luck to teach for 10 years together with Robert Karpiak at the Dept of Germanic & Slavic Studies at UW. He was an impressive academic & a generous colleague. Most impressive was his deep & universal knowledge of the interrelationship between literature, music & the visual arts. The long lines of students in front of his office spoke in itself of his ability to impart knowledge with great passion. He will be sorely missed. - Posted by: Rimma Volynska (Colleague) on: Nov 15, 2017

• Robert Karpiak was my colleague at the Department of Germanic and Slavic Studies, University of Waterloo. His untimely death shocked me and my family greatly (he was a friend and a professor of my eldest daughter). Students, faculty, and friends had the highest esteem for this wonderful person. He is greatly missed. - Posted by: Zina Gimpelevich (colleague) on: Nov 14, 2017

• Professor Karpiak will be always remembered as a real gentleman, a very kind person and a wonderful teacher. My deep condolences. - Posted by: Czeslawa Barbara Kwiecien (Former Student) on: Nov 13, 2017

• Bob Karpiak was a treasured colleague and friend in the Department of Germanic and Slavic Studies at the University of Waterloo. We are saddened by his loss and will remember his kindness, curiosity and many interests. Our deepest condolences to his family. - Posted by: Grit Liebscher (Chair, Germanic and Slavic Studies) on: Nov 13, 2017

• Sincere condolences on Robert Karpiak's passing. He was always a real gentleman, always taking a friendly interest in what colleagues were doing. I really appreciated his help and support when organising my first conference sessions so long ago. My heart goes out to his family and friends. - Posted by: Robert Orr (friend) on: Oct 18, 2017

• When I became a professor at the University of Ottawa in 1971, Bob was there, finishing his Ph.D. He was one of those who gave me a warm welcome, and later on, when he was teaching at Queen's, he invited me to come and give a lecture. Bob was friendly, generous, always ready to talk. The essence of Canadianness. He was also a fine scholar and teacher. I learned things from his thesis, which I read with pleasure. After he moved to Waterloo, whenever we met he was his usual warm self, always a pleasure to be with. Farewell, Bob, thanks for everything... - Posted by: Doug Clayton (Colleague) on: Oct 03, 2017

• Sorry to hear of your passing, Bob. - Posted by: A. Colin Wright (Friend and former colleague) on: Oct 03, 2017

• so very sorry to hear that Bob has passed on. I grieve for his family and loved ones. Bob was a unique individual, with whom I had a very special friendship. We were fellow-students at Sisler High School circa 1960, but we became close friends after meeting again at a CAS Conference in 1986. My best memories include a trip to Russia in 1987 with him and a group of others studying the language under his tutelage, as well as meeting at many Slavists conferences where we had the opportunity to catch up over a glass of good red wine. I was given the very great honour of nominating Robert for the post of CAS Honourary President, which was granted to him for his commitment and service to the Association. A very special man indeed, and a personal loss. My very deepest condolences to Bobby's sister Irene and the rest of his family. Love you Bob, and you live in my heart and my memories as you do in theirs. Vichnaya pamyat'. - Posted by: R Connie Wawruck-Hemmett (Friend) on: Oct 02, 2017

• There has been a fitting tribute to Robert's life and his achievements. Bob & I, along with others from the Univ. of Manitoba all enrolled in the UNTD - University Naval Training Division - and we took evening training courses at HMCS Chippawa. That was followed 1961 to 1963, by 3 summers training, in Nova Scotia, on-board naval ships, at Halifax and Cornwallis Naval Base(s) and 1963 in Victoria BC, at Esquimalt Naval Base and Royal Roads Military College . We spent a lot of time together including socializing in Wpg at Chippawa and the military lounge at U of Man plus during our 3 summers training away on the East & West Coasts along with hundreds of other UNTD guys from Universities right across Canada. Bob would sit down and play either for himself or others if a piano was available; pianos were common in officers' messes then. After completing 3 years for commissioning as S/Lt's, we then pursued our careers after our academic graduations in many different and varied professions. Because of our common experience we stayed in touch and we all attended a great reunion in Halifax in 2010. I visited Bob in Ottawa when he worked in Intelligence at NDHQ and later in Kingston when he was a prof at Queen's University and also served as President of The Queen's Faculty Club. During the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympics, Bob also served as a translator for the sailing events which were held in Kingston Ontario, known as the freshwater sailing capital of the world. In memory and sympathy, Ron N. Paquin Kingston, On - Posted by: Ron N. Paquin (Friend and naval officer) on: Sep 29, 2017

• Dear Iryna Proshu pryjnjaty spivchutja - I will be out of town and unable to attend the celbration of Ihor's life. I was saddened by the news of his death. I have fond memories of our Susk days, the choir trip to Toronto and trips Minneapolis weddings , Plast dances in the domivka - all part of many good things and friendships. The hours spent drinking coffee and discussing literature at UMSU - we " thought they'd never end", He was. always your considerate and protective brother. Vichnaja jomu pamjat' . Chrystia Hnatiw - Posted by: chrystyna hnatiw (friend) on: Sep 28, 2017

• I had only met Bob on a few occasions, once at Wray Pascoe's house, and once in Selkirk. Possibly there might have been another short crisscross in our lives. There are connections between his sister, his ex-wife, his son, and other people that we knew in common. The most uncanny connection was to learn that he sang in the chorus of Cossacks beyond the Danube in Winnipeg, when my beloved husband was the lead of that opera. There are so many degrees of separation in the Ukrainian community. From what I could see, Bob was very accomplished and talented, and a devoted father and loving brother. I only knew him in those contexts, but found him to be charming and entertaining. This obviously was a man of many accomplishments. May he rest in peace. Sincere condolences to all of his loved ones. - Posted by: Merika Graham Skirko (friend) on: Sep 24, 2017

• I am so sorry to hear of Robert's passing. He was a wonderful friend at Sisler, always kind and caring. You will be missed and always in the thoughts of the many people whose lives you touched. My heartfelt condolences to your devoted sister Irene. - Marilyn - Posted by: Marilyn Slecter Simenik (Sisler friend) on: Sep 23, 2017

• Condolences to family and friends. - Posted by: Roy Kunicky () on: Sep 23, 2017