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Andrew Boleslaw Zorawski

Delta, BC, Canada

April 20, 1937 - October 3, 2018

Apr 20, 1937 - Oct 3, 2018

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Andrzej Bolesław Ƶórawski was born on Tuesday, April 20, 1937 in Warsaw, Poland, to Helena and Stanisław Ƶórawski. He was the older of two boys, and is pre-deceased by his brother Michał Ƶórawski. The family lived in the suburbs of Warsaw (Radość) throughout the second world war. He graduated from high school in 1955, and immediately went to work in the automotive industry. In his early years, his passion revolved around cars and rally racing, winning many regional races and qualifying for Rally Poland, a famous Polish rally race, in his late-20’s.

Andrzej met Barbara in 1968 in Warsaw through mutual friends. They dated for two years, during which Andrzej dreamed of traveling and leaving Poland. They got engaged in May 1970, after which Andrzej left Poland as he did not ascribe to the Communist ideologies of those times, and wanted a better future for him and Barbara. In order to escape Poland, he found an opportunity to go on a round-trip “vacation” to Manchester aboard a commercial ship. During this time on the ship, he befriended the captain, spending every evening drinking and playing bridge with him. This “friendship” proved useful when the ship docked in Manchester and he convinced the captain to allow him to disembark, with his passport, to visit a friend in Scotland, while the ship docked for 3 days in Manchester. Once he stepped off the ship he yelled back to the crew to not wait for him to return, and just like that he had escaped Poland.

After meeting his friend in Edinburgh and being unable to find work, he travelled to Paris to stay with a friend who also escaped Poland. He lived in Paris for a year while waiting for Barbara to receive her passport and be allowed to come to Paris on “vacation”. She eventually got her passport and escaped as well. In the meantime, Andrzej travelled to Montreal, Canada when an opportunity arose to take a free immigration flight. Barbara joined him in Canada in May 1971. The married shortly after on June 5, 1971.

Andrzej and Barbara lived in Montreal for 8 years and made many friends during their time there. Their first daughter, Anna, was born on December 8, 1978. After visiting dear friends in British Columbia twice, in 1976 and 1977, they fell in love with the west coast and decided to move there. In September 1979 they made the cross-country journey to Victoria, BC where Andrzej had secured work. After five months in Victoria they moved to Vancouver when he was offered a job at CP Air. He worked for CP Air, then Canadian Airlines, then Air Canada, for over 22 years.

Andrzej and Barbara travelled all over the world, as he had always dreamed. Their second daughter, Monica, joined their family on September 2, 1988 completing their family of four. Their girls grew up travelling with them and seeing the world, thanks to Andrzej’s hard work and dedication to the airlines.

Andrzej retired from the airlines on his birthday in 2002. In his later years, Andrzej spent most of his time playing tennis, bridge, skiing and cycling. Tennis and bridge were also great passions of his, which he played all his life. The many trophies that he accumulated and proudly displayed at home, show a life full of games, friends and good times. Friends and family will always remember Andrzej as a fun-loving, prank-playing, sometimes stubborn, always helpful man.

Andrzej Bolesław Ƶórawski passed away peacefully at the age of 81 years, at Morgan Place Care Facility. The final four years of his life were difficult and trying as he was diagnosed with a very rare brain disease. He is finally at peace and in heaven with his brother and parents, waiting for us to join him. His final place of rest is in the Brookside Cremation Gardens at Victory Memorial Park in White Rock, BC.

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I'm so sorry to hear Andy passed..I worked with him at Canadian before it became Air Canada. Again condolences to the Z…

I'm so sorry to hear Andy passed..I worked with him at Canadian before it became Air Canada. Again …

I'm so sorry to hear Andy passed..I worked with him at Canadian …

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In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to Clinic for Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders Research Program.