CZAYKOWSKI Bogdan Edward. On August 16, 2007, after an 8-month struggle with lung cancer, Bogdan Czaykowski passed away peacefully in Vancouver at the age of 75. He is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Jadwiga (nee Januszajtis), by his daughter Ewa (Iain Higgins), and by his son Piotr (Anne Worley). He liked to spoil his grandchildren, Stefan, Nicholas and Helena. Bogdan was born in 1932 in what was then Eastern Poland. He was deported with his family to Siberia in 1940. His father died in a concentration camp, and he lost his brother to starvation. His long journey through central Asia and India ended in England, where he arrived in 1948. He began his literary career in London, and received post-secondary and graduate education at University College, Dublin, and the University of London. In 1962 he accepted a position in the Department of Slavonic Studies at the University of British Columbia. He eventually became head of the department for 14 years. He remained active at UBC almost until his death, still teaching classes after his 70th birthday. His academic career culminated in a UBC Killam Prize for Excellence in Teaching in 1996. He had a profound interest in language, literature, history and culture, delighted in intellectual discourse of any nature, and was a critically acclaimed Polish language poet. It was his accomplishments on the literary front that were the focus of his life, and he was thrilled to have a volume of his selected poems published in Poland just prior to his death. He will also be remembered for his support of several generations of Polish immigrants to British Columbia. The family would particularly like to thank Andrzej, Wila and Eva Busza for their unswerving friendship and unbelievable support, and Krysia, Andrzej and Kathy Endelman for their wonderful loyalty over the years, and especially over the last 8 months. The family is also grateful to Dr. Nevin Murray and the staff of the BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver Centre, Dr. John Mail, and to all the doctors, nurses and others on wards 11A and the Palliative Care Unit at Vancouver General Hospital. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the BC Cancer Foundation. In keeping with Bogdan's last wishes, a small private ceremony has been planned.
Published in the Vancouver Sun and/or The Province on 8/20/2007.
