It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that the family of Dr. George Gwozdecky, age 93, of Thunder Bay, announces that he passed away peacefully at St. Joseph's Hospice on Saturday, February 2, 2013. George was born on May 23, 1919 in Lviv, Poland (now Ukraine) to Eugene and Eugenia Gwozdecky. He received his medical degree in 1945 from the Charles University in Prague. Between 1946-1948 George practiced as part of the medical staff at the hospital in Reggensberg Bavaria. Reggensberg was set up as a specialized refugee camp for Ukrainians displaced and fleeing persecution from the Russians after World War II. George immigrated to Canada in May 1948 and settled in Rossport, Ontario, where he worked as a CPR railroad labourer. After fulfilling this immigration requirement, he re-located to Geraldton, Ontario, where he began his medical career. In 1950, Dr. George moved to Thunder Bay to work at the Port Arthur General Hospital, where he met the love of his life, Eunice Stenback, who was a nurse at the hospital. On October 18, 1952, they were married, and together George and Eunice raised their three sons, George Jr., Peter and Mark. When he retired in 2009 at the age of 90, Dr. Gwozdecky was honoured by the Ontario Medical Association for his 55 years of practice, the longest serving medical physician in the province. Practically every sport discipline in Thunder Bay has benefited from Doc's medical expertise - including gymnastics, boxing, wrestling, soccer, tennis, figure skating and Thunder Bay's annual 10-Mile Road Race. From 1976-85 he served as the Chief Medical Officers for World Cup and National events held at Big Thunder National Ski Training Centre. Highlights of his sports medicine career include being appointed Chief Medical Officer for the 1981 Jeux Canada Games, and being named to the medical staff of the Canadian Team at the 1983 Pan-American Games. As well, in 1976, Dr. George was appointed Chief Medical Officer for the Canadian Olympic Team to the Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria. Dr. Gwozdecky was instrumental in instituting Northwestern Ontario's first Sports Medicine Clinic at Confederation College's Fitness Centre in 1978. George was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1988. At the Celebrity Sports Dinner in June 2012, Doc was awarded the prestigious Chris Ferguson Sr. Memorial Award for his service as a Thunder Bay Sports Builder. The camp at Lake Shebandowan was George's sanctuary for 56 years - and also a playground for his children, grandchildren, and the family's many friends, where they embraced a deep love for cottage life, including boating, water-skiing, swimming, fishing, saunas, bonfires and bountiful games and social celebrations. Everyone who knew Doc experienced his passion for hockey! He was not only an avid fan, but also served as Club Doctor for the Port Arthur Flyers, North Stars, Bearcats, Marrs, Vulcans and the Thunder Bay Twins. Hockey wasn't Doc's only passion. Every Friday evening for over 60 years, it was his closest friends who were privileged to also experience another passion - they gathered to enjoy their weekly boisterous game of Bridge! This coming June, golfing friends of Doc will gather in Michigan for the annual "Doc Gwoz Classic" golf weekend, where, for 24 consecutive years, Doc entertained them with his jokes and one-liners! Sadly, Eunice, his much-loved wife of 44 years, passed away on April 1, 1996. In 1999, while visiting his home town of Lviv, Ukraine with his son Peter, George met Olga Hasko. He invited Olga to Canada in April 2000, and proposed marriage to her. They were married on November 17, 2000. They enjoyed travelling together - throughout the United States to watch his son George Jr. coach the University of Denver hockey team; to Sydney, Australia to visit his son Peter and family; and to Ottawa, Austria and Jordan to visit his son Mark and family in his various roles as a Canadian diplomat. Olga's son, Andrew, arrived in Canada in September 2003 to live with George & Olga. Andrew and Doc became closely bonded and cared deeply for each other. George will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 13 years, Olga Gwozdecky; his son George Jr. (Bonnie) and their daughter Adrienne; his son Peter (Robyn) and their children Peter Jr., Matthew, Alexander, Josiah, Maxim, Luka, Rafail, and Zofiya; his son Mark (Wendy) and their son Jack; and Mark's children Chris, Graham, James, and Kathleen. Also surviving are his step-children Christina and Andrew; and step-grandchildren Victoria and Taisia. George was predeceased by his first wife Eunice; his parents; his sister Catherine and her husband Bohdan; and his brother Bohdan. Cremation has taken place and funeral services will be held on Wednesday, February 6, 2013 when family and friends will gather for the Funeral Mass at 12:00 noon at Corpus Christi Church, (664 Red River Road) celebrated by Rev. Richard Kowalchuk. Interment will follow at St. Andrew's Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Tuesday evening from 6-8 p.m. in the Sargent & Son Funeral Chapel, 21 N. Court Street, where the Vigil Service will begin at 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the St. Joseph's Foundation of Thunder Bay, or the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame would be gratefully appreciated. On-line condolences may be made at www.sargentandson.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of George Gwozdecky Dr., please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.