SMITH, David John - It is with profound sadness that we mourn the devastating and sudden loss of a loving father, David John Smith, on December 30, 2020.
David was born in Toronto to his parents, Donald and Eleanor Smith (nee Ashman) on May 18, 1969.
David first started his career as a Butcher at Loblaws in early 1980s. It was through his work where David met Tracey, who he later married in Positano, Italy in 2004. David's soft-spoken charm and nature was immediately embraced by his Italian family. Tracey and David have two beautiful boys, Sebastian and Theodore, who are heartbroken by the loss of their Dad.
After many years of sacrifice and hard work, David was awarded his own No Frills in Mississauga, Ontario in 2016: David's No Frills.
David was so loved and respected by his peers. He was known to be the most dedicated, compassionate and inspirational boss anyone could ask for. David modelled exemplary behaviour and work ethic, and was described by his staff as phenomenal, inspirational, responsible, caring, motivating, co-operative, accountable, and courageous. He was a mentor and a leader in the truest sense of the word. The weight of his loss at David's No Frills is unmeasurable.
David personified goodness, worked incredibly hard, had many talents, and a passion for all things hockey, music, and Neil Young. Nothing, however, came close to the love and adoration he had for his two boys, Sebastian and Theodore. David's face was always brightest when he spoke of Sebastian (affectionately known as "Bassy") and Theo, and he took immense pride in watching his boys grow.
He fondly watched as Sebastian and Theodore played and developed their own hockey game. He and Sebastian often spoke about strategic hockey plays and the importance of positioning. David would remind his sons that the key to any sport was humility and good sportsmanship, and of course, how to properly adjust their own equipment. As Theo always says, Dad tied his skates the best and was the only one who knew how to adjust his helmet.
To know David is to also know how much David loved playing his guitars and the music of Neil Young. His self-taught guitar playing was shared with his boys, and Theo was instantly enamoured. From a very young age, Theo would often play guitar and sing alongside his father.
David's spirit lives on through the memories of the many people he so lovingly touched, including those who so tenderly cared for him in his illness, and through the beauty and wonder of his two growing boys, Sebastian and Theodore.
David is survived by the mother of his children, Tracey, his children Sebastian and Theodore, his brother Richard Smith, and sister Karen Bowie (nee Smith), and he was preceded in death by his parents, Eleanor and Donald Smith.
Visitation will be held at Thompson funeral home, Aurora on Friday January 8, 2021. *Registration is closed as all visitation times are now full. Pre-Registration and masks are required due to the current pandemic number of attendees are restricted and physical distancing and masks are enforced.
In lieu of flowers, the family is accepting donations to Crohn's and Colitis foundation Canada (https://crohnsandcolitis.ca/Ways-to-Give/Legacy-Giving/Wills-charitable-bequests) and to PC Children's Charity (https://www.pcchildrenscharity.ca/)
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