Robert Douglas Strizic

Rob will be remembered by his wife Jessica; his children Madison, Alexandra, and Christal; his granddaughter Violet; his brother and sister-in-law Tom and Helen; his mother-in-law Pam; his siblings-in-law Tim and Rachel, and Megan and Paul; and his nieces and nephews Zackary, Mirabel, Nathaniel and Jillian.

Rob was predeceased by his parents, Jean and Thomas Strizic, and his father-in-law Peter Polley.

Rob spent most of his work life in sales. His love of antiques, estate sales, and finding a great deal served him well when he worked at Ritchies Auction House in the early 90s as a floor manager. He would later work in the furniture department at Eaton's and then Sears.

Rob had a knack for connecting with his customers. He had an eye for design and comfort, and with a few simple questions he could find you the perfect mattress for your bedroom. Alternatively, he could show you how the couch you thought you wanted to buy would not fit in your apartment—and subsequently show you three better fits.

Thanks to a mutual friend, Rob met his partner-in-crime, Jessica, in 1993. He was a very proud dad to Madison, Alex and Christal, and for the past four years enjoyed his role as “Poppa”—a moniker used by his own father—to his granddaughter Violet. Rob was a very involved dad, and attended all the kid’s plays, concerts, and graduations. He was often called on to play Santa and frequently volunteered as a chaperon for school trips.

Rob and Jessica were part of the Windward Community for almost 20 years, where he sat on the Board of Directors as well as Capital Projects. He was a one-man snow removal committee and a fierce advocate of member’s rights. Rob had a strong sense of justice and fairness and was not shy of advocating for Co-op members and making sure those in his community had what they needed.

Rob was also a huge Toronto Maple Leafs fan, and he played hockey for most of his life—starting at the age of five with the West Hill Minor Hockey League. He would later coach with his dad and brother. Rob also had a soft spot for all animals. He didn’t hesitate to get down on the ground to play with his parents' dogs or play fetch with his cats. He could be found sitting on a bench outside his home with a book, his coffee, and a handful of peanuts for the squirrels.

The last few years Rob had been dealing with a number of health issues that had impacted his quality of life. While we feel we should have had more time with Rob, we are beyond grateful for the 59 years we had with him on this earth.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to your local animal rescue/ shelter, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, or the One City Scholarship Fund.

A visitation for Robert will be held Sunday, March 16, 2025 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Giffen-Mack Funeral Home & Cremation Centre, 4115 Lawrence Ave East, West Hill, ON, with a funeral service to follow beginning at 2:00 p.m. A reception will be held immediately following the service.