Joseph BABIAK

BABIAK, Joseph October 18, 1935 - September 7, 2018 Joseph Babiak, father to Paul William Peter Babiak, Deborah Patricia Babiak, Julia Elizabeth Babiak and Peter Joseph Babiak, father-in-law to Thomas Edward Smith and grandfather to Casey B. Smith and Perry B. Smith, passed away peacefully on September 7, 2018, after a long and stoic battle with cancer. Dad was married to his first wife Dorothy Beatrice Babiak (nee Southwick) for 42 years and married (common law) to Cathy Ann McGinty for 20 years. Dad was predeceased by Dorothy by nine weeks and Cathy by three years. With his incredible work ethic and do-it-yourself attitude, he could teach himself to do almost anything including oil painting, building an in-ground pool for his family and stripping and varnishing our cottage in the Kawarthas every summer. He had a love of travel which began while working for Ciba-Geigy, where he worked his way up to become President of the North American Pigments Division over a 30-year span. He continued his travels throughout retirement exploring as many destinations as he could, including Iceland, Egypt, the US, China, Peru, Costa Rica and many countries in Europe. Dad generously volunteered his time over the past ten years, driving cancer patients to Toronto from Burlington for their medical appointments. His parents, Sophia (nee Bernaki) and Peter Babiak both immigrated to Canada from Ukraine in the 1930s. They met in Winnipeg and shortly thereafter moved to Toronto, where they worked and raised him. A celebration of his life will be held Saturday, October 6, 2018 at The Poacher, 436 Pearl St., Burlington from 2:00-4:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Canadian Cancer Society.