SANDY ZAITZEFF

Sandy died suddenly June 2/14 while at home. Sandy had fractured his ankle earlier that day, had a cast on, was on crutches getting himself a snack from his fridge when he slipped and fell suffering a severe head injury and died instantly. Sandy had suffered injuries to both knees and legs and his back ski racing over many years. Sandy was born February 7, 1981 in Thunder Bay, is survived by his father and friend Sandy Zaitzeff senior (Heli Kijanen). The journey of life can and does have unfair times perhaps horrific tragedies which this clearly was but life for Sandy always had many many happy memories, huge achievements and was filled with laughter and many fun times with his friends and family.

Sandy had been an active athlete, an alpine ski racer as a teenager and young adult, was an avid local and deep sea fisherman and was an avid golfer. Sandy was also an avid cross country skier and cyclist. Sandy's sports were his happiest moments in life often competing with and most often than not soundly beating his father, in fact his father last won a ski race against him when Sandy was age 8 and from that early age onwards always beat his father by very wide embarrassing margins. Sandy and his father went on many ski, golf and fishing vacations together.

Sandy had skied, raced and trained in Chile at Vallee Nevada and La Parva with the Ontario and Canadian Olympic teams at ages 12, 13, 14 and raced as well as in Colorado, Minnesota, Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and BC winning races in all these locations. Sandy at age 12 was the Ontario and Minnesota Giant Slalom champion, was on the Alberta Juvenile ski team and was on the Ontario juvenile team from age 13 to age 15. Sandy was the Loch Lomond club age champion from age 5 to age 12 inclusive racing every weekend and training all week. Sandy was the juvenile golf champion at Fort William Country Club while a member for many years at the Thunder Bay Country Club where he golfed from age 7. Sandy earned three times trips to the Ontario Juvenile Golf School held at Camp Borden awarded to the top local juvenile athlete. Sandy held for many years the record as the youngest swimmer age 6 in the Amethyst Harbour mile swim.

Sandy was a graduate of Lakehead University, was briefly an insurance broker, had been working as a personal injury and class action consultant with Zaitzeff Law PC and had intended to apply to the new Lakehead University Law School in the years to come. Sandy had studied cuisine in Switzerland in 2007 as he loved cooking. Sandy had learned to cook at a very early age from his mother Marilyn and both of his grandparents Victor and Ann Zaitzeff with whom he cooked many fantastique dishes. Sandy while going to LU had worked at Giorg Ristorante starting as a dishwasher and working his way up to sous chef. Sandy's first employment was at age 12, working on the garbage truck for Amethyst Harbour and drove the truck at age 16.

Sandy loved the family dogs including Sasha, Skyhawk both German shepherds, Chimayo a black lab and Sisu a Portuguese Water Dog. Sandy spent many very happy days with Napoleon a yorkie and his lady friend Kelly Reid. Sandy loved walking and hiking with dogs throughout his life.

Sandy loved the family cottage at Amethyst Harbour and spent many memorable summers swimming, seadoing, boating, having saunas and many many happy days fishing right in front of the cottage.

Sandy was predeacesed by his mother Marilyn, his grandmother Mary Kaiwan and his grandparents Dr. Victor and Ann Zaitzeff all of whom he loved dearly and had many happy moments with.

There will be a celebration of life on Friday, June 6/14 at the Valhalla Inn at 7:00 PM. Anyone who wishes to make a donation please make it to your favourite charity but please also consider an animal charity or BISNO -- Brain Injury Services of Northern Ontario.

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