Gaetano D’Addario Ph.D Eng, M.A. Economics
November 3, 1940 – January 6, 2022
It is with sadness that we mourn the passing of the pillar of our family, Gaetano D’Addario. He died at his residence on January 6, 2022 at the age of 81.

He will be deeply missed by his wife Katerina, his son Yvan, his daughter Jennifer [Bill], ex-wife Sylvia and her family, and stepchildren Natalia [Serguei] and Andre [Marina] and their families. Gaetano will also be missed by his large extended family in Italy and Katerina’s family in Russia and of course our family in Canada led by Matriarch Cousin Maria. In Italy he leaves behind his sister Angela [Emidio], niece Miriam [Simone], and nephews Enzo and Maurizio, and sister-in-law Maria. He is predeceased by his beloved brother Giovanni.

Gaetano was born in Carpinello Sinello in Abruzzi, Italy, attended high school in Vasto and did his PHD in Engineering, specializing in computers, at the University of Rome. He came to Canada, worked for various levels of Canadian government, started a family and did his Master’s in Economics at York University.

While working for government he took an interest in Real Estate. He got his real estate license then purchased a building in Montreal in the 1970s. Montreal was an interesting choice for an Italian who was not crazy about the cold and snow. It was a struggle working at his Toronto job, and taking the train at night to and from Montreal on the weekends to maximize time with his family. In the 1980s Gaetano left government and moved his apartment building business from Montreal to Toronto. Like any good Italian, he loved the classics. So, Gaetano combined his joy of running his properties with beauty, by investing and restoring two historically designated properties in downtown Toronto.

When Gaetano was not working, he was active: soccer, running, tennis, golf, swimming. In his younger years, he loved the group fitness classes at the YMCA and coaching his son’s soccer team. Gaetano also enjoyed the fun of travel, often showing up in a country with no itinerary.

He worked and exercised diligently until his Parkinsonism took over three years ago. And even then, he tried to do both, refusing to give up.

His work was his passion and he readily shared his expertise, frequently using his experience to help others. Gaetano loved to spend time with and support his family and friends, staff, contractors and work colleagues. And in return, they appreciated his warm heartedness, charm, and understood his “frankness”.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to his life.
You made him happy.

A sincere thank you to Toronto Western Hospital, Mount Sinai Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care, and his family doctors, Dr. Choi as well as Dr. Takhar and Dr. Caspari of Cleveland Clinic.

At this time, there will be a private family service with a Celebration of Life in the spring. Memorial donations may be made to any Parkinson’s charity, for example the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research or a charity of your choice.