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Zigfrids Upitis
January 9, 1926 - February 15, 2019
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<div itemprop="description">Zigfrids (Ziggy) Reinholds Upitis <br> <br> <br>Born in Riga, Latvia on January 9, 1926; died peacefully in Ottawa, Canada on February 15, 2019 in his 94th year. He was the eldest son of Matilda and Adolfs Upitis. Predeceased by his wife of 64 years, Valda Daila (née Tilts) and by his sisters, Aina and Rita, and brother, Ziedonis. Survived in Canada by his children, Rena Upitis (Gary Rasberry) and Ivar Upitis (Sylvie Soucy) and grandchildren Brencis, Hayden, Kora, Marcis, and Zinta, as well as his niece Sandi Smith and nephew Andrew Teteris (June Wright). Also survived in Latvia by his sisters, Aija and Maija, as well as many other relations. <br> <br>Ziggy was a world traveler, a gifted manager, and an insightful man of stalwart strength and vision. He was fiercely loyal to friends and family. A self-made man, he was a connoisseur of cultures, acutely interested in the world around him. After retiring in the mid 1980s, he continued to apply his extensive knowledge of metallurgical engineering in a variety of posts overseas, where he helped developing communities become self-sufficient in their manufacturing operations. His travels took him to countries including Romania, Peru, Colombia, Ghana, Singapore, Slovakia, Sri Lanka and to Latvia, the land of his birth. Educated in England and schooled by his lifelong thirst for knowledge and adventure, he was a proud Canadian citizen. He worked for the National Research Council in Ottawa over a half century ago, and while he worked in the private sector in British Columbia (where his children were born) and Alberta, it was his wish to spend his last years in the nation’s capital. <br> <br>The family wishes to acknowledge the extraordinary kindness and care that he received at the Ottawa General and Elizabeth Bruyère Hospitals during his final days. In lieu of flowers, donations to Prostate Cancer Canada or the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation are gratefully accepted. <br> <br>A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, April 6th 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at Pinecrest Remembrance Chapel, Ottawa. <br> <br>According to his wishes, family and friends will spread his ashes along Canada’s Great Trail. <br></div>