RON "ZENKO" LENYK

RON "ZENKO" LENYK It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, who passed away peacefully on Monday, September 14, 2015 at Trillium Health Partners' Mississauga Hospital, surrounded by family, at age 68. Ron suffered cardiac arrest Monday, August 24th and despite valiant efforts by his medical team and the prayers of countless relatives, friends and associates, never regained consciousness. He is survived by his wife of 45 years Olga, daughter Trina and her husband Jason and their daughter Madison and son Terry and his wife Taylor, his sister Irene (Jerry) and their daughters Laura and Zina (Danny), his sister Tina (Brian) and their children Brett and Jordan and cousin Sally. Ron lived every day to its fullest, squeezing every drop of joy out of every hour. His zest for life and passion for sports was evident early in his life. While still in elementary school, he won a public speaking contest and as the youngest player on his school's senior baseball team, helped them capture the regional championship. He participated in all facets of church life, as an altar boy and in the youth group; led an active high school life as an athlete, prefect and team manager; served as international Vice President of his secondary school fraternity Gamma Sigma; and managed the Ontario champion juvenile lacrosse team. An early entrepreneur, Ron organized and presented a series of fundraising dance concerts and at age 17, opened a nightclub in a local restaurant. While studying Business Administration and Radio & Television Arts at Ryerson University (formerly Ryerson Polytechnic Institute), Ron won the Ontario University Men's Singles tennis championship. He remained an avid tennis player throughout his life and was a member of the Ontario Racquet Club. Ron started his career as a Sports Reporter for the Mississauga News in 1970 and was promoted to Sports Editor a year later. By June 1971, he was promoted to Editor and in 1977 was named Publisher of the Brampton Guardian. Two days before his 32nd birthday, in April 1978, Ron was named Publisher of the Mississauga News. Under his direction, the newspaper became the most profitable, award-winning suburban newspaper in Canada, winning hundreds of awards at the local, provincial, national and international levels. He was later named South Peel Regional Publisher and Vice President of Metroland Media Group. In 2009, Ron was named Vice President Newspaper Strategic Support for Torstar Corporation. In 2011, Ron returned to his theatre arts roots and was named Chief Executive Officer for Living Arts Centre Mississauga. During his career, Ron won many coveted awards and honours, including the Canadian Community Newspapers Association's Silver Quill Award for 25 years of outstanding service, Ontario Community Newspapers Association's President's Award for Exemplary Service to the newspaper industry and most notably, Suburban Newspapers of America's Dean S. Lesher Award, the highest award in suburban newspaper publishing in North America. He also sat on the Ontario Press Council. A staunch community leader, advocate and volunteer, Ron played instrumental roles in community organizations such as United Way of Peel Region, Interim Place, Peel Partners for a Drug-Free Community, the Peel Lung Association, the Mississauga Sports Council, Success by 6 Peel, both hospitals in Mississauga, Mississauga Opera Company, Mississauga Board of Trade, Fair Share for Peel, Mississauga Deaf Ice Hockey League, the Mayor's Gala and Mississauga Hospital. He was a founding member of the board of Credit Valley Hospital, Mississauga Board of Trade and Mississauga Community Foundation. Community Living Mississauga, Peel Children's Place, Mississauga Sports Council and the Mississauga News have all named awards and bursaries in his honour. The family would like to thank the many doctors, nurses and staff at Trillium Health Partners' Mississauga Hospital for their kindness, efforts and support. Friends will be received at the Ridley Funeral Home, 3080 Lake Shore Blvd. W., Toronto (at 14th St., between Islington and Kipling Aves., 416-259-3705), on Saturday, September 19th from 5-9 p.m. and Sunday, September 20th from 3-5 and 7-9 p.m. Panakhyda (Prayer Service) at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday. Orthodox Rite of Funeral at St. Demetrius Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 3338 Lake Shore Blvd. W., Toronto, on Monday, September 21st at 11:30 a.m. Interment to follow at St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Cemetery, 1280 Dundas St. W., Oakville. Messages of condolences may be placed at RidleyFuneralHome.com. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a charity of your choice in Ron's memory.