Dad passed away peacefully at St. Joseph’s Health Centre on February
27, 2006. He was the devoted husband of Dr. Maria A. deVilla and the
loving father of me and my sister and Eileen and father-in-law to my
wife Wendy and Eileen’s husband Richard. He was also the beloved
grandfather of Aidan, Nicholas, and Ryan, who knew him as “Dodo” (their
mispronounciation of the Tagalog word for grandfather, lolo) and the adored brother to Thelma Leelin, Regina Morabe, Elizabeth de Villa and the late Scarlet Santos.
Born in San Juan, Batangas, Philippines, he studied at Ateneo de Manila and the
University of the Philippines. He trained in the U.S. then lived and
practiced in Toronto for over 30 years.
Dad was a friendly, outgoing, and generous man. He was devoted to
work and family and was a pillar of the community, playing key roles in
the Filipino Centre Toronto and the Filipino Canadian Medical
Association. He touched the lives of the many patients he cared for as
an obstetrician-gynecologist to the many friends and associates who
sought his wise counsel, and to his family who love him and will miss
him dearly.
[Thanks to Rannie "Photojunkie" Turingan for the photo.]
The Adventures of Accordion Guy in the 21st Century will return to its regular blogging schedule on Monday, March 13th.
83 Comments
There are too few people in this world that fit the description of your Dad and the world loses big time when someone like him passes. Death seems to impose its terrible irony of greater pain and sense of loss to those close to very good people — A penalty of sorts for being close to someone so valuable to all of us. I pray that you and your family find peace during this most difficult time.
-tom
My prayers are with you, Wendy and your family. Dave Winer
My condolences.
Joey,
Please accept my sympathy during this difficult time.
Frank Paynter
I’m very sorry for your loss, Joey.
I was a great admirer of your father the moment I met him- you, Wendy, and your whole family have my sincerest condolences.
I don’t know what else to tell you Joey, except that I’m very sorry for your loss. My best to your family.
Sorry to hear about your loss Joey. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Your father brought much joy into the world - you are not alone in mourning his passing. Very sorry for your loss, Joey. When it gets tough, remember how many lives your dad touched. It will get easier with time.
Ginny
Blogula Rasa
My sympathies and condolences to you and your family.
Hey Joey
Sorry to hear about your Dad. From your stories he sounded like a wonderful father and husband.
Joe
Joey, I’m so sorry. My thoughts are with you and your family.
Heavy. My condolences to you and your family, Joey.
It’s sad for any man when his father dies. I said a prayer for you in this life and for your Father in the next.
Terry Valko
My Condolences.
- Nathaniel (random regular reader in the GTA)
Joey and Wendy, I’m so sorry. Thank you for sharing him with us.
Hugs to you all.
Julie Leung
My sympathies to you and your family, Joey.
My deepest condolences, Joey.
My condolences to you and your family.
-Randy
My condolences Joey. It’s been 19 years since my Mother died and I still think of her everyday. With your memory and talent I am sure stories of your father will live long in your family and your children will know him through you.
My deepest condolences to you Joey and to your family..Be strong.
My condolences Joey. I’m terribly sorry for your loss.
You must be feeling inexpressible grief right now. I’m sorry for your loss. You don’t say how old he was, but if you’re only in your late 30s it was much, much too soon.
Michael O’Connor
My sincere condolonces to you, Wendy and your family. May your dad be remembered for his work in the community and the lives he touched over the years.
My condolences to you and your family Joey. I’d also like to say you do a wonderful job of paying tribute and remembering.. i feel fortunately to be able to read such heartfelt words.
So sorry for your loss, Joey.
condolences to you at this time. Call me if you need anything.
I’m sorry for your loss, our thoughts are with you and your family.
Joey:
I’m so sorry. Losing a parent changes everything. My thoughts are with you and your family.
Stasia
Joey,
My condolences to you and your family.
I have know doubt he was as proud of you, as you are of him.
Ian Irving, FalsePositives
Many Condolences to you and your family.
My sympathy to you and your family, Joey
Patrick Lee
Joey,
I’m so sorry to hear about this. My deepest condolences to you and your family.
Pavel
Very sorry to hear about your dad Joey. My condolences to you and your family. My dad passed 7 years ago and I know there are few words that can be used to describe it.
Our prayers are with you and Wendy, your whole family, and especially you mother.
Grace and peace be with you —
*hugs*
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
My condolences.
I’m so sorry, Joey. My thoughts are with you.
Joey,
My sincerest condolences to you and yours in this time. I’m sure your father was a wonderful man and was very proud of the man you have become. I know what it’s like to lose family having lost three grandparents thus far in my lifetime (the one year anniversary of my grandmother’s passing was Monday). Once again deepest sympathy to you all.
Long time reader, first time poster. I’m truly sorry for your loss. From the way you’ve eulogized him here, it is apparent that he has left a tremendous legacy.
My thoughts are with you.
Scott
Joey, our prayers are with you. May the burdens of the day rest lightly on you, as my own Dad would say. I’m sorry I never met your Dad - for him to have fathered a man like you, he must have been a fine, fine human being.
Joey,
My prayers for you and your family.
Tom.
Damn. Sorry.
Thank you so much for posting that beautiful photograph of your father. His obviously kind and gentle personality shines through; it helps us empathize with your loss. My thoughts are with you and Wendy.
Joey and Wendy,
Our deepest condolences to your and your family.
-Kat and Ian
We haven’t met, but I know Wendy through Berkman meetings, and so between that and reading your blog I feel as if I know you a little. I remember thinking when seeing your wedding photos what a handsome couple your parents were. I am so sorry for your loss. I just wanted to add my thoughts and prayers to the others. Ann House
So sorry, Joey. That you are such an amazing guy is tribute to him.
-stavrosthewonderchicken
Sorry to hear about your dad, Joey.
My father passed away 17 years ago, and my mother just last year. I think I have an idea what you’re going through. What I can tell you is that he will stay with you. Your memories of him form who you are, and who you will become. From the sound of it he touched the lives of many people, and made the world a better place. I wish I’d met him.
My thoughts are with you, Wendy, and your family.
Scott Watkins
I’m so sorry for you loss. Your father sounds like a wonderful man who led a great life. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
~Elizabeth
(lurking reader)
Stay strong. You seem to have had good training, there. All the best to your family from ours.
i’m so sorry joey. My condolences to you and your family.
-corina
Very sorry for your loss Joey. My thoughts are with you man.
- Will
Deep condolences. May you be comforted among your fellow mourners.
Joey, I’m so sorry to read this news. It comes through so clearly in this blog what a fantastic family you have and how much love you all share. My sincere condolences to all of you.
Joey, my heart goes out to you. Love. Martino.
Ride on.
My condolences on your loss.
-Jamie (JB’s Warehouse)
My deepest sympathy to you and your family.
- Melanie / chandrasutra
Joey, I am so sorry for your loss. I always admired your father. I have heard from other people that he was very much respected in Toronto’s Filipino and medical communities. This was definitely before his time. I will always remember how hip and young he seemed, and his dry sense of humor.
Ryan M.
Love to you and your family, Jo. We’re so sorry for your loss. Best, Ashley
My sympathies, Joey and Wendy.
–arcane
Dear Joey
I am so sorry for your loss.
I never met your father,
but I feel a familiarity with him through your blog.
For many of your readers,
I think your dad represented our own fathers,
and our relationships with our fathers.
… and in that,
your loss is shared by all of us.
You and Wendy are in all of our thoughts
Love
Carson
I was shocked this morning to fire up your site and see this first posting. It’s so hard to get through these times. My father passed away just over a month ago, tragically drowned while on vacation. Not a day goes by when I’m not thinking about him and just wishing for one more day. I’m sure you’re going through the same. It’s hard, but the saying is true…each day gets a little bit easier. I’ll be thinking of you and your family.
http://www.blainekendall.com
Joey - as a regular reader of your blog I feel I have gotten a glimpse of knowing you and your family a bit. I am very sorry for your loss. Your father sounds like a fantastic guy.
I’ll say a little prayer for you all.
Thank G-d he got to see your wedding!
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
cm
My most heartfelt condolences, Joey. He got to see you and Wendy get married - I’m sure this was a great source of joy to him. My prayers go out to you and your family.
My most sincere condolences to you and your family at this time.
Joshua Day
Roanoke, VA USA
Regular anonymous reader here- my condolences, Joey.
Another avid reader but first time to make a comment. My deepest condolences to yourself, Wendy, family and friends. Your Dad sounds like he was an amazing man.
Thank you so much for opening your world up ~ I used to live and work in the area that Tocows in locatd before moving to Los Angeles. Thanks for not making Toronto seem so far away at time.
Thanks again!!
My prayers are with you to give you strength. I’m very sorry for your loss. Let me send this poem, “I cannot halt the hands of time, nor live again the past, though in my heart are memories that will forever last”.
My condolences on your loss.
Sorry to hear about your father’s passing, Joey - my sincerest condolences to you and your family.
- Hamish Grant
Joey,
I’m sorry to hear about the passing of your father. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.
I am in the “don’t really know you” category, but I have seen you at critical mass rides and am a big fan of your blog.
Please accept my sincere condolences.
I am in Beijing today and saw a woman with an accordion (no case) in her bike basket.
of course I thought of you.
best regards
Lisa R-R
Joey - I can’t even imagine. So sorry.
What a handsome man! My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family Joey.
Kim - Bacon and Ehs
Hey Joey. I don’t post often but do frequent your blog as much as I can. I was truly saddened to see this post just now. I wish you and your family strength and togetherness through these times. Through the many posts you made about your father, I would appreciate more his sense of humor, affable personality, and contributions to community. My prayers go out to you and your family, and will include much gratitude for the positive presence that your father gave to the world around him.
Hi Joey,
Haven’t had a chance to read your blog in a while, as I was at a conference in Spain. Anyways, like everyone has said before, my condolences to your family. It is an extremely difficult time, but you can take comfort that your dad is now in a better place. God bless you and your family.
the good always die young, like my mom and dad. they were both lovely, honest people.
so many angry, jerky people live long lives. it just doesn’t seem fair.
keep your head up Joey.
The Spammer
I have often enjoyed the warm way you write about your family, and I offer my family’s prayers for your loss.
-Will E., “just a blog-reader”
I’m very saddened to hear about your father, Joey - my thoughts and well wishes go to you and your family.
My heartfelt condolences to you and yours, Joey.