Storyteller, entrepreneur, expert auto mechanic, loyal friend

Elias Shahinian was born in Jerusalem. He is the beloved brother of Margo and Angel (predeceased). Elias spoke fondly of his childhood at the Ramallah Friends School. He and his family moved to Jaffa where he learned the automotive trade from his father. Years later in Toronto, he was able to employ those same skills to build a business that he continued to run well into his late 80s. He and his wife Dikranouhi cherished their three children, Nanette (John Greenwood), Serge (Susan Gauthier) and Natalie, and grandchildren, Jeremy, Alexander and Chlöe.

A father figure to many, Elias will be remembered for his unremitting hard work, perseverance, loyalty, compassion, conviviality, generosity, expertise, humour, storytelling and love of good food long before foodies were invented.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Elias’s memory be directed to Sunnybrook Hospital, in care of the Sunnybrook Foundation: (https://donate.sunnybrook.ca/tribute).

His presence, larger than life, will be dearly missed. May he rest in peace.