Andrew John VAN VELZEN

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Andrew van Velzen. Predeceased by his father, John; mother, Josephine (Fieny); and older brother, Robert. Andrew is survived by his sister, Audrey (John); sister-in-law, Jan; nieces, Cassandra, Samantha, and Sarah; nephew, Ryan; and his dear friend, Khalid. Andrew grew up in Willowdale, attending Newtonbrook High, where some of his best memories were made on March Break trips to Greece, Spain, and Israel. In recent years, he found joy in walking through Willowdale, passing by his childhood homes on Northwood and Robinter Dr. At 18, Andrew joined Canada World Youth (CWY), spending time on the west coast before embarking on a nine-month journey to India. CWY fostered incredible friendships that Andrew reconnected with through social media in later years. In the early '80s, Andrew became deeply involved in the peace movement. By day, he worked as an elevator operator in the historic Gooderham & Worts building, and by night, he was a rising young executive in the peace movement, organizing peaceful demonstrations and facing numerous arrests in both Canada and the US. His most notable arrest was for a civil disobedience action at Griffiss Air Force Base in upstate New York, where he protested against missile testing and was apprehended by heavily armed soldiers. He was willing to take many personal risks to make the world a better place. In the early '90s, Andrew worked as a researcher for the Canadian Bureau of The LA Times, contributing to many published articles and gaining access to high profile events. It was heartbreaking for Andrew when they chose to close their Canadian Bureau. Andrew later worked for Grand & Toy, where his astounding memory could tell you the make, model, and location of every office product ever sold. His recall for details on major world events was legendary – there was no need for Chat GPT when Andrew was in the room. A gifted writer, Andrew's talents were evident in his LA Times work and hundreds of eloquently crafted letters to editors, primarily in the Toronto Star, but also occasionally The Globe and Mail. On his CIUT radio show (U of T campus radio), Andrew interviewed many famous individuals, including the renowned American professor, Noam Chomsky. He also developed a close friendship with US historian and foreign policy critic, Gabriel Kolko, during his Toronto years. He was a voracious reader with an incredible retention of knowledge. His passions included Hot Wheels, airplanes, space exploration, books, newspapers, architecture, politics and the moon. He was among one of the first visitors to the CN Tower in 1976, and his infatuation with it lasted a lifetime, it's only fitting that in his last year he got to enjoy the view daily from his new condo. Andrew had an extraordinary ability to make people feel special. His attention to detail, childlike wonder over new experiences, and intense curiosity forged close friendships across all walks of life. He will be missed by so many. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Canadian Cancer Society. A celebration of Andrew's life will be held at The Pilot on Cumberland St. on Thursday, July 18th, from 6 - 9 p.m.