Donald George Holoch

Loving stepfather to Michael (Ting-Ting) and Mai (Joe) and proud grandfather to Isabella. Loving brother of Robert (Marylou), predeceased by brother George (Beth) and uncle to Peter (Adelle) and Daniel (Caro). Donald enjoyed his 89 years on this earth, spending time in the army during the Korean War, going to Columbia on the GI bill and eventually finding his way to Hong Kong for his graduate studies. It was there that he would meet the woman that would be his future wife. Shu-ying immigrated to Canada to start the Chinese Department of the East Asian program at York University. Donald visited and as the story goes, “never left again.”

Donald joined York University as a professor of Chinese language and literature and then went on to author and translated stories and books until his retirement in 2001.

When asked why he was retiring, his most famous line was “I need more time to think” and so he did that for the next 24 years, reading, writing, musing and laughing. He will be greatly missed.

There will be no service, please no flowers.

As an expression of sympathy, donations can be made to the Alzheimer Society or to any Indigenous charity in Canada of choice, in memory of Donald, thank you.