Eulogy

The following was the eulogy presented by Nick's son David at the lunch following the funeral services Dec 14th:

Dear family, friends – Right reverend

My family and I want to celebrate with you some highlights from our dad’s long and active life. All in all, he was a pretty amazing man. He made people feel comfortable, no matter from what background they came from. He did so many things, and worked with so many organizations and people, had so many successes and many accomplishments. Yet, through it all, he was a humble, down to earth person

We’re sure that one source of Nick’s humble nature comes from being raised on the farm. He was born in Redwater in 1926, and after he reached the age of 2, his parents moved North to Boyle. The farming style was mixed, because the soil on their land was somewhat poor. Nick had to grow up through the Great Depression. He had learned, along with his family, to become self sufficient and wise in the use of his resources.

During his boyhood, Nick participated as his father helped in building the local Orthodox church. (This is the church where his parents are buried, and where Nick will be laid to rest.) This is also where Nick had his early training in carpentry and building construction. Before, during and after the church was completed (in 1936) Nick gained early experiences in a variety of church community development activities. Nick’s father was reported to have had a fine tenor voice and had received some previous musical training. Nick told us his father worked on reviving the old tradition of door to door Ukrainian Christmas caroling for the settlers in the area. This meant that most rehearsals ended up in the family farm house and Nick would reminisce on how much he enjoyed these pleasant musical social events.

Ukrainian church related social events became an integral part of Nick’s life for his many years to follow. Nick had moved to Edmonton, and became active in the Canadian Ukrainian Youth Association. He joined St John’s Cathedral and later helped found their Young Adults Group. Still Later, Nick served as Director, Vice President and President of St John’s and was made an Honorary Life member. He was a member of the Order of St. Andrew and was actively involved as a member, director or officer of numerous associated organizations which included CYMK, St Andrew’s College, Ukrainian credit Unions, Ukrainian Village Society, Ukrainian Canadian Archives and Museum, St. John’s Institute and others.

Service to others was a way of life for Nick. Immediately after High School he enlisted to serve our country. He started in the Royal Canadian Armoured Corp, with the Lord Strathcona Royal Canadians where he trained as a gunner and tank driver. As he war wound down, he was moved to the Corp of Military Staff Clerks, where he helped discharge the returning troops. In 1946, Nick was himself discharged with the rank of acting sergeant and took to civilian life by working for the Independent Wholesale company in the grocery business. Looking back on his experience in the Military, Nick said that he had developed a high sense of organizational skills, discipline and work ethic, which would add further to his basis of values in his life.

Artistic talent came naturally to Nick. He loved to sketch, and photography had always been a passionate hobby. So Nick left the grocery business to draw and photograph plants at the Dominion Lab of Agriculture and Plant Pathology Research at the University of Alberta, 1951-1952.

Photographic pursuits soon lead Nick to be involved in the 1953 formation of Film Services, a black and white film processing company. He became president in 1959. Then, in 1961, he became president of Northwest Color Laboratories, which developed color film and grew to be one of the largest photofinishing companies in Canada, employing over 200 persons and servicing photofinishing for the majority of drug, camera and department stores in Western Canada. Nick retired in 1993 after being in the business for 40 years.

Nick was a very successful businessman because - as many customers had remarked, and as we as we had always known - Nick was a man of his word. If he said he would do something, it would get done.

Also central to his success was his belief that “if you are going to do something, do it well” In doing his artwork and photography, he would study the subject from all angles and then present beauty in things that others would blindly pass by. From his sketches to his paintings, from his photography to his stained glass windows, he quietly and humbly (and almost continually) produced work after work of a high standard.

Nick received an associate membership of the Photographic Society of America (APSA) in 1955 – he was one of the youngest associates in the world. He was granted a life membership in the Professional Photographers of Canada and honored as Master of Photographic Arts (MPA) in 1990. He exhibited photographs internationally and had over 400 acceptances – many of them receiving awards worldwide. He received Life memberships in the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain, the Photo Marketing Association International, and the Buck Rogers Group of Photo Industry Leaders and Innovators.

Nick was a member of a great number of associations and societies, often serving as a director or officer. In his interactions with others many appreciated his clever, soft sense of humor. He was President of the Canadian Club of Edmonton (2006-08); director of the Alberta Heart and Stroke Foundation for 20 years and its President for two (1993-94); member of the downtown Edmonton Chapter of the Rotary Club for over 40 years, serving as director and President (1989-90) and becoming a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow; member of the Edmonton Flying Club for over 40 years serving as its director and secretary; member of the Edmonton and District Historical Society; Founding Member and Director of the Edmonton Chapter of the Probus Club; a member of the Stained Glass Association of America; and a member of the Royal Canadian Legion for 63 years.

We often wondered how Nick had the time to do so much and do it so well. We think one reason for this was his deliberate and scientific approach to improving himself or mastering an area of interest. To learn photography, he read every book he could find and studied photographers like Ansel Adams. To learn to paint, he started by copying works by Leonardo Da Vinci and Millet. To learn stained glass he visited churches all over Europe, photographing and studying the windows. Above all, he was a man of action and deeds. He rarely watched TV and usually fell asleep during movies. Instead, he loved to read, have discourse and gain insight by actively engaging his mind. This would then lead to expression through his actions and deeds.

Nick had designed and created windows for St Mary’s cathedral in Willingdon and for the Norwood Legion. 18 of the exquisite stained glass windows in St John’s, which Father Semotiuk had pointed out earlier were designed, created and installed by Nick Ochotta.

Nicholas Paul Ochotta, M.P.A., A.P.S.A., or Nick as he is known to his family and friends, was born on January 23, 1926 to Emilian and Anastasia Ochotta in Redwater Alberta. He passed away peacefully in his sleep at Norwood Capital Care on December 4, 2009. Nicholas is survived by his three sons, David and Elizabeth of Ontario; Peter and Darlene of BC; and Emil and Bin of California; and their mother, Irene of Edmonton; six grandchildren, Sam, Stephen, Andrew, Mike, Nicholas and Annabelle; Sister, Katherine Carter; sisters in-law Stella Stefure, Rose Davidovich, Ollie McEvoy and Merv Granlien, Nadeya Bodnar; companion, Helen MacCrimmon; nieces, nephews, godchildren, relatives and friends. Nicholas was predeceased by his parents, Emilian and Anastasia; sisters, Mona and Carl Shevoley, Annie and Steve Harmatny; brother, Mike and Jennie; brother in-law, Martin Letawsky; his in-laws Anne and John Humeny, Martin and Jennie Bodnar, Joseph Bodnar, Nick Davidovich, Tony Stefure, Roy McEvoy, and Nick Bodnar.

Good –bye Dad, we love you. We will all miss you.