Chester Ufnal was born on March 15, 1921.  His parents were Stanislaw Ufnal and Mariana (nee Posiadlo) Ufnal.  They were immigrants from Lagow, Poland, (NE of Krakow, near the city of Kielce). Stanislaw came over to America at the turn of the century, made some money, returned to Poland and married Mariana. They arrived in Canada in 1907 and in 1908. Aunt Mary was born followed by Wanda in 1909, then John, Helen, George and Chester.  Chester, being the youngest, was fawned over by his older siblings.

In his teen years, he had stories of jumping the fence around the Princess Gates at the CN Exhibition.  On his last birthday we were able to capture on video his recounts of his exploits.

In University, he formed a band, and played the trumpet at a few local bars, and the Palais Royale.  Upon hearing his trumpet playing, we always wondered how he possibly had a band.  In the video, we discovered he was more useful for his transporation services, then trumpet playing!

After gradutating from the Univerity of Toronto as a civil engineer,  he worked several jobs after University.  Eventually, his old college professor, Proctor, asked him to come on as a head engineer at his company, Proctor Redfern and Laughlin. Later on, Chester went on to his own company, Wyllie and Ufnal Consultants Ltd. with John (Jack) Wyllie.

Chester was the patriarch to a blended family of nine children. Margaret, with husband Peter and daughter Stephanie; Richard, with wife Deborah and son Jonathan; Joan with boyfriend Sergei; Chester Jr.; Camille; Ed with wife Katherine; Scott, with wife Susanne and daughter Brodie; Darrin, with wife Sally; and Claire, with husband John and soon to have their daughter in September.

One of Chester’s hobbies in the 1980’s was making his famous home made wine in the basement.  He loved drinking it, but again… took more jabs and teasing about his sludgy wine!

Some of his family’s memories include dad vacuuming the pool in the backyard in his underwear, and the stereo speakers belting out Dusty Springfield, the Animals, or Hugh Muskela!  This of course was after he had finished sanding the back of the garage each spring, and always leaving a plentitude of white paint drops all over moms freshly planted garden below!

Chester had lived in the same house for about 60 years.  It has become the cornerstone for the Ufnal family and their friends.  There was always a guest or two sitting around the kitchen table, and lots of New Years Eve parties.  In 1999, Chester was at home alone when a fire began in the garage, suspicously after Chester was working with a heat gun.  Luckily he and the pets were not harmed.  The house got completely repaired and renovated and that began the Ufnal’s ‘post-fire’ era, and the beginning of the Tequila Sunset Summer bar parties.  He quite often got teased about starting the fire.

He had a great sense of humor and passed that on to his children.  They all get together for family dinners and holidays many times a year, and are very close.  Chester will be always toasted and remembered at the head of the table.