John Secko passed away on Tuesday December 14, 2021. John is survived by his wife Mary, his children and their spouses Caroline (Peter), Julianne (George), Susanne, Gregory (Tammy) and his grandchildren, Christopher, Sophia, Charlotte, Kyle, Robert, George Jr., Alexander and Christian. Dear brother of George Secko and the late Michael Secko.
John grew up in downtown Toronto’s west end. His strong commitment to his faith led him across the city to renowned Catholic high school, De La Salle College. While attending De La Salle, John enjoyed great athletic successes, winning championships on the school’s Varsity Hockey and Football teams. Always proud of his team’s accomplishments, John maintained a collection of newspaper clippings proclaiming their dominance. After starting a family, John smoothly transitioned to the bleachers, tirelessly supporting his children and grandchildren as they navigated their personal passions.
Sports were omnipresent in the Secko household, with John proudly referring to his home as the “Sports House”. Watching the Maple Leafs, Blue Jays, Raptors and a variety of other sports with his wife Mary was a favourite pastime activity they shared. Any call to the house during a game would undoubtedly garner a greeting of “Are you watching the game?”.
John not only excelled in sports but was a high achiever in academics. He consistently scored at the top of his class at De La Salle and went on to have a successful career as a Chartered Accountant with Revenue Canada.
Ever inquisitive, John was likely the prototype for Google. He had an inquiring mind always ripe with new questions, right up to his final days. Obtaining and sharing knowledge with anyone willing to listen, and even those who weren’t, was a constant when in the presence of John Secko. Upon the birth of his grandchildren, and the simultaneous technology boom, he would bombard them with requests to “Ask The Google Machine…” any question that came to his mind.
As a young man in Toronto during the 1950s and 60s, weddings and dances dominated the local social scene. If there was a Slovak or Polish wedding happening nearby, chances are John and his friends would be in attendance, with or without invitation. Although he did not have an ounce of Polish blood in his body, John developed a strong affinity towards the culture, highlighted by his infectious enthusiasm while dancing to traditional Polkas. As fate would have it, he would meet his future Polish bride, Mary Stoklas, at a local Polish shindig in 1965.
John shared 54 wonderful years of marriage with his loving wife Mary. He cherished every moment spent in the company of his ever growing family. John and Mary’s unconditional love, support, and companionship for each other has been an inspiration to their beloved family, exhibiting the purest tenants of marriage. Family gatherings were frequent, and John was always joyous and grateful being in the presence of those he loved most.
God please welcome John into heaven with open arms. He will be easy to recognize wearing his beloved Blue Jays baseball hat.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to a charity of your choice.
Funeral will be live streamed. Please copy and paste the following link https://youtu.be/2bXNAGoKsd8