Christophe PREOBRAZENSKI

CHRISTOPHE PREOBRAZENSKI Christophe Preobrazenski, 71, noted criminal defense attorney and inspiring athlete of downtown Toronto, died Wednesday, July 26, 2023, at the Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital. Christophe was born November 1, 1951, at the old Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, the son of the late Ryszard and Olenka. He is survived by two younger brothers, Roman and Jack. Christophe grew up in the Dufferin and Eglinton area. He was not one to be intimidated or bullied. Learning Judo as a youth with his father and brothers gave him 'street cred.' Christophe spent his summers camping and sailing, which gave him an enduring appreciation for the outdoors. Meanwhile, his Judo interest deepened. Under the tutelage of Sensei Uemura, Christophe rose to become a three-time Canadian Judo Champion and won two bronze medals at the Pan Am Games. He later taught Judo at Hart House at the University of Toronto, and he coached the Ontario team. After completing his Masters' degree in Eastern European History at U of T, he went to McGill for law school. He articled in Toronto and was inspired by John Hamilton to practise criminal law. As a criminal lawyer, he was respected by his adversaries, and in turn he treated them with respect and consideration. He put his verbal skill, sense of humour and jousting ability to good use on behalf of his many grateful clients. Everyone noticed his commanding presence, enhanced by his booming voice. Christophe's drive and determination were legendary. He liked to win, be it on the Judo mat, on the running track, in an argument, or in court. Christophe developed a lifelong vigorous exercise training habit that started at Hart House and later continued at the Cambridge Club. Until a year ago, he typically trained twice a day. His running efforts peaked when he ran the Ottawa marathon in 2:52 as a heavyweight. Most people who knew Christophe remarked how he was "larger than life." He was known for his generosity of spirit and gift-giving. His enthusiasm and care were a constant in his friends' lives. He will be missed greatly by his small family, particularly his brother, Roman; his sister-in-law, Linda Tulving; his nephews, Alexander and Nicholas; as well as the Piwnik and Kuta cousins in Poland. Jonathan ('Welsh brother'), Daniel ('Israeli brother'), Giuseppe ('Italian brother'), Allan ('Chinese brother'), Yolanda, Elena, Nica ('Russian goddaughter'), Alejandra ('Mexican niece'), and Tomika ('Hungarian brother'), are but a few of the countless people who will miss Christophe. Despite Christophe's physical stature and attention to his own health, he suffered from a form of 'turbocancer' which has tragically become more common since 2021. Despite the amazing efforts of the Sarcoma Team at Mount Sinai and Princess Margaret Hospitals, the sarcoma metastasized and progressed at an unexpectedly quick pace. Many thanks to the palliative care teams at both the Princess Margaret and Hennick Bridgepoint hospitals who helped Christophe live well until he could no more. In keeping with Christophe's bespoke approaches to life, he wished for no funeral. His body was cremated July 31st after a small, private family gathering. A Celebration of Life will follow at a future date.