Anatole Markovitch Demidenko, 87, died peacefully in his sleep on January 25, 2026, after suffering years with multiple compounding illnesses. He was born as an only child to Vera and Mark Demidenko in Kiev, Ukraine on March 18, 1938. As a child of war, he grew up with very little. Despite his humble beginnings, he maintained a positive, and hopeful outlook on life. He was a self-taught musician and beautifully played the accordion. He was a lover of classical music, nature, cooking, and good food. He met his wife Nadia (née Golik) when they studied together at the Foreign Language Institute. Many years later and together with their son Slava, they fled the Soviet regime and immigrated to Canada in 1973, later settling in Ottawa. Anatole first worked at a local fitness centre before obtaining employment with the Public Service (DND) as a language teacher, where he worked for over 20 years. He earned a Master’s degree in Slavic languages from the University of Ottawa. Following his retirement, Anatole returned to his passion for sport and fitness by working and training at the Ottawa Athletic Club. While there, he won a World Championship in power lifting in his 70s. Beyond his many accomplishments, his strength lay in his tenderness and warm-hearted nature. He was a peaceful, loving man at his very core. A hopeful romantic. His sweetness was obvious to anyone who spent even a few minutes with him. Anatole is survived by his loyal wife, Nadia, and three children, Slava (Iryna), Natasha (Michael), and Andrew (Julia). Loving grandfather to 9 grandchildren—Amy, Alex, Ian, Leopold, Isaac, Augustine, Nina, Vera, and Ivar. His family will deeply miss his beautiful heart, sense of humour, and loving presence. He brought a smile to everyone who knew him. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Urgent Aid for Ukraine.
Hide this
