It is with sorrow and relief that the family of Dr. Jaroslav Vaclav Frei announces that he passed away on Nov. 16, 2023, at the age of 94.
Dr. Frei was predeceased by Ellen, his wife of 65 years; and is survived by his five children, Andrew (Marianne), Sibyl (Louise), Alex (Melony), Caroline (Mike) and Rosemary; his five grandchildren, Leah, Jeneen, Willem, Ariana and Genevieve; his great-grandchild, Nico John; his sisters, Paula and Helena; and his nieces and nephews.
Dr. Frei was a professor of medicine and a pathologist at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ont. He obtained an MD at Queens University in Kingston, Ont., and a PhD at McGill in Montreal. Dr. Frei really enjoyed being outside. He took his family on mushroom hunts and cross-Canada camping trips, swam anywhere he could and made time to paddle in his rowboat and cross-country ski at "the land" (Nassagaweya). Through these adventures, he taught his children to likewise enjoy the outdoors. Art was an important part of Dr. Frei's life. His paintings adorn many of his kids' walls, and his weekly trips to paint at the Arts and Letters Club gave him another outlet for artistic expression. Dr. Frei and Ellen strove to teach their children equality, human rights, value of family, education and culture. His children's diverse interests are testimony to the success of their efforts.
The staff and management at Christie Gardens have been wonderful support during the last few years of Dr. Frei's life. We appreciate their great care and kindness. Next time you are out in nature, take a moment to appreciate the beauty of this incredible world we live in, as would have Dr. Frei. Dr. Frei's life will be remembered in a celebration of life for family members.