Obituary of Zygmunt Ratynski
May 2, 1937 - Kolomyja, Poland
July 19, 2023 - Calgary, Alberta
Zygmunt Ratynski, beloved husband of Adela Ratynski, of Calgary, AB, passed away on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at the age of 86 years.
Zygmunt was born in Kolomyja, Poland, on May 2, 1937. He moved to Grzedzin, Poland in 1945 where he first laid eyes on the love of his life and future wife at the age of seven years. Adela’s family had just returned to their hometown following World War II. Zygmunt instantly took to the Silesian culture of this region, including the dialect.
Zygmunt was a very well educated man. He began his education in Art School in Poznan which was interrupted due to political uprising. After a mandatory tour in the army, he continued his education, receiving a certification in Education at Katowice, which allowed him to teach at the local school in Grzedzin. He continued to dream of further studies and in 1965 started a Master’s Degree from the AWF in Warsaw, Poland. In 1971 he graduated with a specialization in cardiovascular rehabilitation and started his career as a rehabilitation expert in Poland.
Zygmunt married Adela on August 21, 1961, and they shared a beautiful almost 62-year marriage. They quickly had three lovely children: Darek born in July 1962, John in January 1965 and Maria in August 1966. They moved from Grzedzin in 1967 to Klodzko and in 1976 a fourth child was born, Sabina, followed three years later by Richard in 1979. In 1980 Zygmunt left communist Poland for West Germany with his youngest daughter Sabina. He was separated from his beloved wife and four other children for thirteen months until they were able to leave the communist country behind as well. He worked as a massage therapist in Munich, utilizing his extensive knowledge of the body and how it functions. In September of 1982 the family immigrated to Toronto, Canada.
Though he never regretted leaving communism behind in pursuit of a better life for his children, the early years in Canada were hard on him and took a toll. He had all but given up on his new country and was preparing to move the family back to West Germany, when the Calgary 1988 Olympics played a pivotal role in his life. His last wish before moving the family back to Europe was to see the Rocky Mountains. Watching the Olympics on television, inspired him to travel to Calgary with his eldest daughter Maria as a gateway to Banff to fulfill his wish and explore the wilderness. Fatefully, Maria noticed a hiring sign in the window of a chiropractor’s office, and he applied on a whim. The doctor asked Zygmunt for a massage to test his skills and hired him on the spot. In August of 1988, instead of moving back to Europe, he moved the family West to Calgary. He continued to work in the same chiropractic office until his retirement in 1995.
Adela and Zygmunt purchased a second home in Blairmore to be closer to the nature which he dearly loved. He took every opportunity to go for walks in the mountains, woods or meadows. He loved fishing and picking wild mushrooms; he was never without his trusty pocketknife and a bag, ‘just in case’ he came across a treasure trove of mushrooms, which he would proudly bring home for a special meal. They enjoyed living close to nature until his health no longer allowed for their remote independence and they moved back to Calgary in 2007.
Among Zygmunt’s most special skills were his abilities to work with his hands, both as a handyman and as a healer. There was no repair or home improvement task he could not figure out and tackle. Their homes in Calgary and Blairmore were both remodelled many times, usually utilizing Zygmunt’s creative and thrifty solutions. The energy in his hands was a healing comfort to all that were lucky enough to experience it, including his many massage patients. His daughter Sabina also regularly received comfort from her many childhood migraines - no medication could compare to his healing hands.
Until his heart condition and Parkinson’s disease took their toll, he was exceptionally fit and strong for a man of his small stature. He practiced yoga long before it was mainstream. For strength and flexibility, he developed an exercise regimen involving manipulation of a 'staff’ as well as a meditation technique for wellness. These he practiced himself, were used in treating cardiac patients and were the basis of his PhD, completion of which was interrupted when emigrating from Poland.
He loved gardening, writing poetry and playing cards, especially Skat (a Silesian game) and then Kanasta, which Zygmunt and Adela played regularly throughout their marriage, first with friends and then with all their children as they taught them to play. This was always a favorite family activity that led to much laughter and friendly competition.
The passion he will be most remembered for is painting. Lovingly hanging in his children’s homes are the paintings that will always live on. His ability to envision images in roots and branches and capture the nature he loved so much in his art was incredible.
Zygmunt was always devout and actively practiced his Roman Catholic faith. He greatly enjoyed serving as an altar boy when he was young and continued to attend Mass every Sunday throughout his life. When his declining health prevented personal attendance, he and Adela continued to worship by watching Mass on the television every morning and every evening they would pray the rosary together.
Besides his loving wife, Adela, Zygmunt is survived by four children, John (Ewa) Ratynski of Toronto, ON, Maria (Piotr) Gruszecki of Dallas, TX, Sabina (Gerry) Samuelson of Calgary, AB, Richard Ratynski of Calgary, AB and his daughter-in-law Johanna Yakachuk of Silverton, BC; and eight grandchildren, Jessica and Eric Ratynski of Toronto, ON, Roman Gruszecki of Pheonix, AZ, Adam Gruszecki of Dallas, TX, Trudy and Henry Samuelson of Calgary, AB, Aleksander Ratynski of Halifax, NS and Adryan Ratynski of Silverton, BC.
Zygmunt is also survived by his sister-in-law Danuta Ratynska of Nysa, Poland; as well as a niece, nephew, cousins, and friends.
Zygmunt was predeceased by his first-born son, Darek Sixtus Ratynski, his parents Felix and Anna Ratynski and his brother Janusz Ratynski.
Relatives and friends are invited to Prayers and Tributes at McInnis & Holloway (Heritage, 1708, 16th Avenue N, across from the North Hill Shopping Centre, Calgary, AB) on Thursday, July 27, 2023, at 7:00 p.m.
Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Holy Name Catholic Church (2223 – 34th Street S.W., Calgary, AB) on Friday July 28, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. Reception to follow in the church hall. Condolences, memories, and photos can also be shared and viewed here.
In living memory of Zygmunt Ratynski, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Heritage, 1708 – 16th Avenue NW, Calgary, AB, T2M 0L7, Telephone: 403-243-8200.
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