Obituaries

Frank Walter Svistovski

It is with deep sorrow we announce the passing of Frank Walter Svistovski after a courageous battle with cancer. Frank passed away peacefully at the young age of 59 years, surrounded by his daughters, on the morning of Saturday, June 5th, 2021, at Saint-Boniface Hospital.

Frank is survived by his three daughters; Marise (Alex), Annick (Tyler), and France (Greg), whom he shared with his former spouse and very close friend, Suzanne D’Amours. He is also survived by his brothers Mike (Colleen) and Rick (Kathryn) and his sister Pamela Rae; his beloved nieces and nephews Michael (Sandy), Brenna (Jay), Ryan (Samantha), Megan (Justin), Kelly, Kaitlyn (Nick), Rachel (Nick) and Lochlin; as well as numerous cousins.

He is pre-deceased by his father Adolph Svistovski, mother Helen Svistovski, and sister Barbara Hoy (Howard).

Frank was born in 1961, the same year his favourite CFL team, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, won the 49th Grey Cup. He grew up on his Polish-Canadian family’s farm, located south of Brandon in the Brandon Hills area of the Hayfield district. Frank spent his time working alongside his family on their farm, picking the saskatoon berries growing in the hills surrounding their home, playing football, and looking out for the Sasquatch on Sasquatch Hill.

He graduated from the University of Manitoba with a degree in Agricultural Engineering. Around that time, he was also playing football for the Fort Garry Lions. In 1987, he went on to start a 30-year long career with Environment Canada. He first joined Atmospheric Environment Services which took him to Saskatchewan, to the high Arctic, eventually settling in Winnipeg, then on to Environmental Protection, from which he retired in 2018.

Though an injury prevented him from realizing a career in football, it never took away his life-long love for the sport or his team. Once he relocated to Winnipeg in 1990, the same year he married Suzanne, Frank became a first-time holder of the Blue Bombers’ season tickets. He renewed them every year since, for the last 31 years. He often brought his daughters, family, and friends along to games with him, sharing his love of the sport and the team with them (even if they didn’t always win). His memory already lives on at the IG Field, where his name can be found as you enter the stadium. He proudly pointed this out to his daughters every time they joined him for a game.

Frank was the life of the party to those who knew him. He was always ready for a good time, whether he was wearing his famous gorilla suit, out playing golf, or simply sharing a funny story. He led an eventful life; one which saw him working up north at the Alert weather station, spending treasured moments in Tennessee, and everything in between. Despite the excitement, he always found himself happily back at home in Winnipeg. Frank had the biggest heart and truly loved his family and friends with every fibre of his being. Despite his illness, he carried on with strength and love in his heart. He was also very much at peace knowing that his beloved Blue Bombers were current reigning champs.

The family will be holding a private ceremony to honour Frank at a later date. The ceremony will be held on the family farm, thus making his favourite place in the world his final resting place alongside his father, mother, and sister.

A very special thank you to the staff the Health Sciences Center, CancerCare Manitoba, and especially to the wonderful staff at the Saint-Boniface Hospital for their thoughtful and tireless care of our Dad, in spite of this exceptionally difficult time for health care providers. Thank you for all that you do.

If you would like to honour Frank, you can do so by making a donation to the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation, or by cheering for the Bombers once the season picks up again.

“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” –Winnie The Pooh (A. A. Milne)