It is with full hearts that we announce the passing of Leonard Shymkiw, beloved father, grandfather, teacher, gardener, woodworker, and proud lifelong Lancer.
Len spent his entire career at Lasalle Secondary School, first as a math teacher and then as a guidance counsellor - a role he excelled in because he truly loved people, even the difficult teenagers (and at times their even more difficult parents). He coached the Lasalle Lancers curling team for years, inspiring generations of students to love a sport that involved equal parts skill, sweeping, and good humour.
He may also be remembered - somewhat against his will - for the unfortunate perm of the 1980s, which the family insists was “character-building,” though no photographic evidence will be publicly released.
A man of endless hobbies, Len was an avid gardener who once harvested 900 pounds of potatoes from his backyard… a feat so remarkable that his daughter Stephanie still hates potatoes to this day. He grew pumpkins in the compost pile “because that’s where they grew best,” and made endless jams with his yearly yield of raspberries.
His love of woodworking produced Muskoka chairs, Christmas ornaments, decks, and countless treasures — each piece featuring “one small mistake nobody will notice,” a signature that made them undeniably his.
He was a devoted father to Stephanie (David) and Stuart (Esther), and he adored his grandsons, Will, Matthew and Ben. He built, fixed, lifted, hammered, solved, drove, and gave endlessly for them — often while his own house remained in disarray, a fact he swore was “on the to-do list” for at least twenty years.
Len gave his time freely, loved without hesitation, and poured himself into his family with steady generosity. His greatest legacy is not the potatoes, the pumpkins, or perfectly imperfect woodworking, but the family who loved him fiercely and will miss him always.
At Len’s request, there will be no service; instead, enjoy a good laugh, doing something kind for someone who needs it, and remember that life — like his woodworking — is best appreciated with a sense of humour and a forgiving eye.