With broken hearts and profound sadness, we announce the sudden and unexpected passing of our beloved son, Hlib Korzhynskyy, at the age of 24.
Hlib was an exceptionally intelligent, hardworking, and determined young man with a sharp mind, a wonderful sense of humour, and an unwavering commitment to honesty. He believed in telling the truth and expected the same from others. He was independent, remarkably organized, and always knew exactly what he wanted.
An excellent student from an early age, Hlib developed a passion for computers and technology, with a particular interest in privacy and security. He carried that passion into his professional life, where his intelligence, dedication, and reliability earned him the admiration and respect of his colleagues. His manager described him as a star team member — smart, talented, kind, wise, and driven — with an exceptionally bright future ahead of him.
Hlib was a private person who valued genuine connections over large social circles. He had relatively few friends, but the friendships he formed were deep, loyal, and lasting. One of our happiest memories will always be hearing his laughter coming from his room as he played computer games with his friends. That wonderful, familiar sound filled our home with happiness, and we will carry it in our hearts forever.
He had a unique sense of humour, often catching us completely off guard with his wonderfully direct and unexpected answers. A simple question like, “Where are you going?” could earn the perfectly serious response, “Why do you need to know?” We couldn’t help but laugh. That was Hlib — honest, independent, and entirely himself.
Although he wasn’t someone who openly expressed affection, his love showed itself in small, thoughtful gestures that meant more than words. Once, when travelling from Mexico to visit us in Canada, he arrived at the airport carrying his mother’s favourite spoon in his pocket. Nobody had asked him to bring it. He had simply remembered, and that was his way of showing he cared. It was such a funny, sweet, and wonderfully Hlib thing to do.
He also had a playful, mischievous side. On one occasion, returning from a work trip, he decided to surprise us by knocking on the window instead of coming straight inside. Unfortunately, he knocked on the neighbour’s window by mistake and ended up being startled by their dog instead. It became one of those family stories that would always make us smile.
Hlib had ambitious plans for his future. He dreamed of becoming financially successful and retiring at 40, a goal he approached with his characteristic determination and practicality. He loved travelling and visiting new countries, although traditional sightseeing was never particularly appealing to him.
And then there were the little things that made him unmistakably Hlib — his love of mashed potatoes prepared exactly the way he liked them, his strong opinions, his remarkable organizational skills, and his ability to make us laugh when we least expected it.
Above all, Hlib was a deeply loved son, grandson, and nephew, a loyal friend, an outstanding colleague, and a remarkable young man.
At just 24, he had so many dreams yet to fulfil, so many places to visit, and so much life still ahead of him. His sudden passing has left an emptiness that words cannot describe.
We will miss his laughter, his humour, his honesty, his unexpected answers, and those quiet little gestures that reminded us how much he loved us.
We will forever be proud of the person he was and grateful for every moment we had with him.
Forever our son. Forever loved. Forever missed.
