February 20th, 1918 – December 6th, 2004
Artist. Athlete.
Orator. Poet. Politician.
Volunteer. Warrior. Family man. These are but a few of the words
that describe the life of Charlie Konvalinka.
To say that Charlie
led a very full and satisfying life would be an understatement. Regardless of his pursuits, Charlie embodied
a high standard of excellence. He was
competitive. He was fair. He was inquisitive. He had a good sense of humour and he laughed often. He expected the best from people and was
rarely disappointed. He was blessed with
movie star looks, an athletic build and an exceptional brain. Above all else, he was an active participant
in this personal voyage called life.
Charlie’s family know
from his frequent retelling of certain stories how important the Canadian Air
Force was in shaping his life. His
involvement with “the Air Force” spanned most of his adult life. Pilot, flight instructor, Squadron Leader,
Past President of The Air Cadet League of Canada, or Past President of the
Canadian Air Force Officers Association, his involvement took him to most of
the major cities in Canada and several more in the United States and
Europe. In the process, he made a
personal, positive impact on hundreds, if not thousands, of Air Cadets and
officers around the world.
As Charlie’s official
involvement with the Air Cadets came to a close, he became involved in a yearly
tradition of speaking with grade school children at the David Hornell V.C.
Public School here in Toronto on Veterans’ Day.
Impeccably dressed in his traditional Royal Canadian Air Force uniform,
he would patiently answer the children who, in their innocence, asked if he
ever shot a gun, if he was taken prisoner, or was he scared. Dad hoped his efforts would help the kids to
know that many people gave their lives so that the younger generations could
live in peace and freedom.
Involved as he was
with a career at the TTC and his various positions with the Air Cadets, Charlie
excelled at several hobbies. In his
prime, Charlie was a scratch golfer. Well into his seventies, he could still
hit the ball straight and true, often scoring in the low eighties. He was asked if he ever hit the ball in the
rough. His response – “I tried it once
and didn’t like it” was humourous, but also accurate.
Charlie was an
internationally known sprinter, a graceful and powerful skater, and a daring
and capable skier. Blessed with a
considerable musical pedigree from both of his parents, he never turned his talents
to music, although he had fine tenor singing voice and was passionately stirred
by an eclectic mix of music.
At Christmas, family
members were treated to his traditional hand-made cards. In addition to an individually painted scene,
he would compose an original poem. When
the spirit moved him, which it often did, he would turn to oil paints or watercolours to produce a museum quality portrait or
landscape.
Charlie was recently
asked what was his greatest memory. He
quickly replied with a bright smile, “That’s easy. Marrying Lorraine.” When pressed for his next choice, he
responded that it was when he returned from the war and saw his wife and young
son from whom he’d been absent for about a year.
If you’re reading this
pamphlet, you too were an important person in Charlie’s life. He valued his family. He valued his friends. Charlie would have preferred that this not be
an occasion for sadness, although we shall each experience this in our way, but
of a cause for celebration and remembrance, for a life truly well lived.