DR. DAVID J. NOVAK

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DR. DAVID J. NOVAK Dr. David J. Novak (a.k.a. Dad/ Poppa/ Doc/ Nose) passed away peacefully on July 25, 2018 at the Moog & Friends Hospice House in Penticton, BC, surrounded by the love of 'his girl' of 57 years, Sigrun Novak, his four children, Signy (Helen), Kristin (Jim), Dave Jr. (Tracy) and Shannon (Mark), and his precious grandchildren. David was born in 1941 in Winnipeg, Manitoba (to parents, William and Rene Novak) where he grew up with his older brother, Bill (Maureen). He graduated from Kelvin High School and later completed his undergraduate and medical degrees at the University of Manitoba, where he rounded out his studies as a varsity Bison basketball player and member of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. He completed his postgraduate Neurology fellowship at Case Western Reserve, Cleveland, Ohio. To find adequate words to describe David and the impact he had on everyone who loved him, is an impossible task. To Sigrun, he was her life partner ('her golden boy') and together, they created a beautiful life filled with an undying love and commitment to each other. They did everything together, from dancing to cycling to yard work, and in every aspect of life, they were a team. All who witnessed this genuine love were in awe. To his four children, David was beyond a father. He was a man who taught them to work hard, never complain, be humble and giving, be kind to everyone and above all, to love your family. David was a family man to his core and valued nothing more deeply. He was a constant throughout his children's entire lives. David was a man of many friends, both old and new. His genuine and interested nature made others gravitate toward him. Many had the privilege of enjoying a delicious dinner (often a recipe from the New York Times!) at his home accompanied by real conversation that mattered. David loved all of those evenings on his deck, enjoying the beautiful view. He loved to have fun with his friends and was always up for a good party! This held true throughout his entire life and he maintained many long standing friendships and had too many 'old friends' from his youth to name them all. We would however, like to thank one of his very best friends, Harvey Speirs, for his devoted friendship with our dad and his love for the entire Novak family. We cannot thank Harvey enough for all that he has done for us since moving to Penticton in 1978 and particularly for his love and kindness during the difficult time of David's passing. To brother Bill and Maureen, thank you for your constant love and support. Professionally, Dr. David Novak was a well respected Neurologist in Penticton for over 39 years. He loved the medical profession more than almost anything and devoted his life to helping others during difficult times. He was a pioneer in stroke research, being the first small community Neurologist to implement cutting edge stroke treatments with TPA in Penticton, saving countless lives. David was incredibly proud of this work and was so passionate about it that he would have continued working for years to come if he had the opportunity. He loved being a doctor. For over 25 years, David and Sig contributed countless volunteer hours by organizing and running the medical tent for the Ironman Canada Triathlon Championship and Penticton Challenge Race. David loved life. He could be found enjoying life in a variety of ways. Most often he was outside working in his vineyard that he planted back in 1983 (he was always way ahead of the trends!) or tinkering in his wine garage and making his incredible Shadow Hills wine. David absolutely loved to make wine (and drink it!) but above that, he loved to share it. He was an incredibly generous man. He made many lasting relationships in the wine community and most recently, his life was touched by a kindred connection with Italian winemaker, Alberto Zenato. In the final weeks of his life, David was still able to make meaningful connections with others and this was a beautiful example what an incredible man he was. Beyond his vineyard, David was a 'jack of all trades' from wine maker, to wood cutter, to irrigation specialist to passionate dog trainer and more. It seemed he could fix any problem and he always amazed others by what he could do. He had an insatiable curiosity and appetite for learning and an inspiring drive to make the most of every single day. David was extremely healthy and active throughout his life and loved all sorts of adventures. In particular, he had a love for duck hunting with Dave Jr., grandson Conner, longtime friend Gord Ford and of course, his beloved dogs. He also loved to travel from backpacking in Europe, to climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, to his annual relaxation vacation with Sig each winter to Cabo San Lucas. David lived his life on his terms (and of course Sig's), and in the end, had full control of his fate. He fought his cancer bravely and with such grace and strength but he knew when it was time to say goodbye. He made the decision to utilize his rights through the MAiD program (Medical Assistance in Dying) and was able to leave us all with such beautiful memories of the man we all loved, and will continue to love, forever. In true form, David's final words were praising the medical professionals who cared for him, and in particular, his support of the the MAiD program. Our heartfelt thank you to all involved for the important work they do and for helping David achieve his final wishes. A special thank you to the staff at Moog & Friends Hospice House. We would also like to thank Dr. Niall Davidson and Dr. Sarah Broder for walking with David through this four and a half year journey and supporting him all the way. He held you both in very high regard. David Novak (Dad, Poppa), you are our superhero and we will rise to the challenge of carrying on the legacy of your life. We could not feel more grateful for your presence in our lives and the impact you had on us all. You will be missed beyond words. A Celebration of Life will be planned for late August and an announcement will be made in the Penticton Herald once the date has been determined. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation, 550 Carmi Ave., Penticton, BC V2A 3G6.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 04, 2018