Shay Shimonovich

Dear Shimonovich Family I am so sorry for your loss. Shay was a kind person who always treated those around him with the upmost respect. He was warm and always made those around him feel special. May his memory be a blessing.

To the Shimonovich Family, Losing a parent/child is never easy. The void they leave can never be replaced. However, the memories last forever and seem to fill the hole more and more with time until you are left with the stories that make you laugh and look back on with fondness. He will always live within you, in each child and grandchild. May he now rest in peace. Sincere condolences on your loss. Gary

I will miss dear Shay greatly. He was like a brother to me. He was always full of life and good humour, and never missed a chance to make you laugh. I cried for days after hearing of his passing. During his time with Shirley and I in Australia he made many friends as he was able to put judgements aside and accept people for who they truely are. Shay understood how to live in the moment and how to make people feel good about themselves. He was a loving and playful father, a great friend, and I’m sure he will be missed but all those who were lucky enough to have met him. So long brother, I will always miss your presence.

At a loss for words. My deepest condolences.

I'm deeply saddened to hear of Shay's passing. Though our interactions in recent years were few, his energy, positive spirit, and kindness left a lasting impression. My thoughts are with Maya, Sasha, Yosef and Shirley during this difficult time.

Our sincere condolences to the entire family. We are shocked and in disbelief. May his memory be a blessing to all. Sadetzki Family

To The Shimonovich We send you our heartfelt condolences. May the beautiful memories you have of Shay comfort your broken hearts at this very devastating time May Shay rest in eternal peace From: Kamano (Hazel's dad), Shoks (brother) and Wambui (mom)

I have known Shay for over 30 years. Shay loved life. He got along with everyone from all walks of life. He was a big movie buff- his favorite movie was the usual suspects . He also loved rock music. He was a great athlete in his heyday. He could shoot 3 pointers effortlessly, stand in front of a hockey net taking and giving abuse like no one else and could throw a football farther than anyone I know. He was a great wrestler. He humiliated me 10-0 when we faced each other in a wrestling tournament in high school. He was such a physically strong alpha male. A real man’s man. His presence enhanced any social occasion. He was always quick with a joke or a light of a smoke. He was incredibly funny and charming. My sincere deepest condolences to the Shimonovich family. There was not a man on earth like Shay and his passing is heartbreaking. There is so much I wish I could say to Shay and it pains me immeasurably that we did not end on good terms. I learned a valuable lesson when I spoke to his dear brother Yosef at Shays funeral and neither of us could recall what the beef that caused our falling out the last few years was over. Shay will be missed greatly by everyone who was fortunate enough to know him. I don’t know what I believe happens after death but if there is an afterlife I hope Shay is waiting for me with vodka, cigarettes, Nirvana on and a seat for me at your poker table. Goodbye Shay.

I’ll never forget the first day I met Shay. It’s was September 1999 and we were in two of the same grade 9 classes at William Lyon Mackenzie C.I. He had friends in the class from C. H. Best but, coming from a middle school outside of the catchment, I didn’t know a soul. Shay playfully teased me because I had lipstick on my teeth - albeit he did it in a way that only he could do, which left me smiling and quickly running to the washroom to address the make-up faux pas. His top of the stair wit and natural talent for making others laugh drew me in, and I knew were destined to become lifelong friends. Shay was a great friend; he was the kind of friend that stands by you when you need somebody to be there. He generously moved my mom twice, he would accompany me on mini excursions with my baby cousins, go grocery shopping with me, go to local bars with me, see the latest horror movie with me, among several other things. There was a time where we were so close and spent everyday together. Unfortunately, we lost touch over the past few years but would occasionally check in to see how the other was doing. He was so happy about being an uncle to Lily. In fact, I have quite a few pictures and videos of Lily on my phone. When Shay finally become a father he was over the moon with joy. I also have treasure trove of videos and pictures and his beautiful daughter. I’m so sorry that Shay is gone. I would give anything under the sun to bring your beloved Shay back to you. I believe that Shay is reunited with G-d and that we will see him in Olam HaBa. I would like to extend to my sincere sympathies to Maia, Sacha, Shirley, Yosef, Hugh, Suzuko, Lily, Arina, Bella, Leizer, and all the other bereaved family members. May G-d comfort you among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.

I met Shay 25 years ago in high school, and probably like most, I had difficulty telling Shay and Yosef apart at first. Shay’s confidence, and overconfidence, was how I was able to tell them apart initially. Whenever we played/watched sports, there were always bets and/or side bets. Up until a few years back, each Sunday, we would go down the list of each NFL game to see who each of us liked, and if we disagreed on who we thought would win, it was automatically a $10 wager between us. I’m not sure why we ever stopped this (maybe one of us owed the other too much money), but I wish we never did and I wish we could still do it again. When we played basketball, he always thought his next shot was going in, even when he missed the last 5. As I reflect on our friendship, Shay always had a unique ability to brighten up your day through his humour, positivity and infectious laugh. Shay was truly a kid at heart, and always lived in the moment. Shay appreciated the simple things in life: good company, making you laugh/smile, watching a movie, and a day with no plans (other than to just hang out). It saddens me that Shay passed away so suddenly, and I wish we could grab one more beer and hang out just like we always did. Shay, I was lucky to have you as a friend and I miss you buddy. My deepest condolences to Yosef and the entire Shimonovich family.

I met Shay at William Lyon MacKenzie. He was one of the sweetest guys there. Always making you feel good about yourself. He was one of the few people there who enjoyed making people laugh and feel good about themselves. He will be missed dearly.

I was deeply saddened to hear about the loss of Shay. Please accept my heartfelt condolences during this difficult time. May you find comfort and strength in the cherished memories you shared together. Wishing you peace and solace,