Tadeusz (Ted) Kiwala was born in Poland and is predeceased by his parents, brother George, sister Zosia and son Andrew. He passed away peacefully on February 23, 2023 at Friendly Manor Nursing Home in his 98th year.
At the onset of WWll, Ted was deported by the Russians to a Siberian labour camp when he was 14 years old with his mother, sister, and brother. During this time as “Stalin’s guest“ his love of horses was born as he worked with them to clear trees from the forest and operate a small ferry. His work with the horses became much easier when he learned the Russian swear words that they responded to!
The Russians released Ted from the labour camp. He served in the Polish Army and the Polish Allied Navy spending time in Africa, France and Iraq. He also served in the battle of the Atlantic.
After the war Ted learned English in Scotland, finished high school and completed an honours degree in chemistry at the University of Glasgow.
Ted met his first wife Helen while at the University of Glasgow. They immigrated to Kingston in 1957. He worked at Dupont in the Research and Development Centre and finished his career managing their library. Ted went on to teach computer literacy at the prison for women. He was always working his body and mind reading and learning, and touching many lives in his own unique way.
Ted loved classical music and could identify composers and individual soloists.
He raised and trained Arabian stallions in dressage and showed them at the Royal Winter Fair. Ted took many motorcycle trips in Canada and to Daytona for bike week with his son Andrew. He bicycled in the Alps in Germany, Switzerland and France, and later Portugal, Greece and Czechoslovakia. He also took part in the Ottawa-Kingston-Ottawa race for several years.
Ted is survived and will be missed by Jo-Ann, his best friend, caregiver and wife of 28 years, daughter Sophie (Michael), granddaughters Jennifer (Andy), Linnaea and Helene, and great grandson George.
We would like to thank everyone at Friendly Manor Nursing Home for their care and kindness in Ted’s final journey. May he Rest in Eternal Peace. Donations in Ted's name to the Cancer Society or the Kingston Symphony Orchestra would be gratefully appreciated.
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