Paul Wyczynski

WYCZYNSKI, Paul, O.C., L.es L., D.E.S., Ph.D., D.Litt., D.es L., M.S.R.C., Professor Emeritus Born in Zelgoszcz, Poland, June 29 1921, passed away peacefully at his home on November 27, 2008 surrounded by his beloved wife of 57 years, Regine (Delabit) and his children Michel (Suzanne Laroche), Isabelle (John Copeland), Rita (Paul Crampton), Bernard (Anita Huber), Marc (Danielle Bourret), Monique (David Richard), and Anne (Roberto Spada). He is also mourned, and will be deeply missed, by his grandchildren Christopher and Patrick Copeland, Stefan, Brendan and Adrienne Crampton, Alexa and Jordana Wyczynski, Nicholas and Alexandre Wyczynski, Justine and Jefferey Smyth and Ricardo and Antonio Spada. He will be forever remembered as a kind and gentle husband, father, brother, grandfather, uncle, great uncle, friend and teacher. He was a man of peace who was compelled by the greatest threat of our time to establish the Jaszczurka branch of the Polish Resistance, in which he fought bravely to help defend freedom, liberty and human dignity. He found the inner strength to overcome the unspeakable crimes that he and his compatriots experienced. After emigrating from Europe in 1951 to embark on a new chapter of his rich life, he remained deeply committed to his native country and never missed an opportunity to extend his helping hand and generosity to his people. From 1958 to 1973, he was the Founding Director of the Centre de recherche en literature canadienne-francaise, which later became the Centre de recherche en civilisation canadienne-francaise, at the University of Ottawa. In 1968, he was named University of Ottawa Professor of the Year. From 1963 to 1969, he was member of the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism. He was founder and coordinator of the Archives des lettres canadiennes. He authored and co-authored more than 65 books and numerous articles in various journals. He was awarded the Killam Research Fellowship in 1984; the Ordre des francophones d'Amerique in 1988; was knighted in the Ordre des arts et des lettres de France in 1990; was named Officer of the Order of Canada in 1993; was awarded the Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit by the government of Poland in 2001; received the Chwalba Grzmislawa recognition in 2002; and was awarded the Lorne Pierce Medal by the Royal Society of Canada in 2006. He was a member of the Association de literature compare; the Societe des ecrivains canadiens-francais; the Societe francaise d'histoire d'outre-mer; the Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences in Canada; the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences (PAU, Krakow); and the Canadian Association of Professors. Friends may pay their respects at the Beechwood National Memorial Centre at Beechwood Cemetery, 280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa (613-741-9530), on Thursday, December 4, 2008 from 6 to 9 p.m. and on Friday, December 5, 2008 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. (8:30 prayers). The funeral will take place on Saturday, December 6 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Hyacinth Church, 201 Lebreton Street in Ottawa. In memory of Paul, donations to the University of Ottawa Heart Institute would be appreciated, 613-761-4790.