Obituary of Karol Forgac

Karol Forgac, beloved husband of Zuzana Forgac, of Calgary passed away at home on Thursday, December 7, 2006, at the age of 70 years. Karol battled leukemia for about 10 years, the last two of which were extremely difficult. He fought with dignity making his family proud, and even becoming one of the longest surviving leukemia patients at the Tom Baker Cancer Clinic. He died peacefully in his sleep with his family nearby. Born in Kremnica in the former Czechoslovakia, Karol grew up in Bratislava. After attending film school to become a motion picture technician, he served in the army and then met and married Zuzana Britkova with whom he had two children. When the Russians invaded Czechoslovakia in 1968, on the urging of his friend Steve Behan, Karol moved his family to Canada. Struggling through the early years in Edmonton, Karol eventually became a highly respected photographer and photo lab technician working in both Edmonton and Vancouver as he chased his dream of returning to the film industry. He eventually settled in Calgary in 1981 spending eight years at the Calgary Herald, and then a number of years at Westfair Foods, from which he took an early retirement due to health reasons. Karol went on to work part-time because he enjoyed meeting new people, while keeping current with technology. Karol always dressed impeccably and carried himself with pride. He enjoyed the finer things in life and had a passion for creating memorable moments for family and friends. Throughout his life, Karol loved to make people laugh and was often the centre of attention – few can forget Mrs. Jesper. He also loved to play his fujara for others, and then offering up a piece of fine chocolate from his secret stash. He loved landscape photography and particularly enjoyed taking his beloved Alero on drives through the Alberta foothills. He and Zuzana loved visiting Mexico with friends even enduring a major earthquake in Manzanillo in 2003. Besides his loving wife, Karol is survived by his son, Vlad and his partner, Andrea; his daughter, Zuzana and her husband, Andrew Capeau; his two grandsons, Justin and Everett; and his sister Maria Forgac, in Bratislava, Slovakia. He was predeceased by his parents, Anton and Amalia Forgac, and his sister, Anna Dostalek. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Luke?s Catholic Church (Corner of Northmount Drive & Northland Drive N.W.) on Tuesday December 12, 2006 at 11 a.m. with the Rev. John A. Bastigal Presider. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation in the memory of Karol Forgac can be made to the Labour Environmental Alliance Society, to help prevent carcinogens in our environment. Your donation will be acknowledged with a copy of the CancerSmart Consumer Guide. Donations can be made to the LEAS #1203 -207 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 1H7 www.leas.ca. In living memory of Karol Forgac, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Crowfoot Chapel, 82 CROWFOOT CIRCLE N.W. Telephone: (403) 241-0044.