28 FEBRUARY, 1958 – 12 APRIL, 2024
Alexandr Rachitskiy was born on 28th of February 1958 in the city of Odessa, Ukraine, where he spent his childhood and met his wife of 45 years, Nataliya. Together, they have studied and sailed the world while working on cruise ships. Life was humble but full of hope and dreams. Inevitably his family grew bigger with the arrival of his son, Eugene.
In 1996 the next chapter of his life started as Alex and his family made a brave and difficult decision to immigrate to Canada, in order to ensure a better future for the family. With the support of family, friends and determination, he has faced the difficulties of new language, culture and dwindling finances.
In Canada, by accident or fate, he discovered his passion for wrought iron art. Being handy with tools, he quickly became an apprentice of a blacksmith’s trade and it did not take long before he learned all he could. He was ready to pursue his own ventures and, with the support of the whole family (and a fair share of bank loans), ‘Adamant Forging’ was born.
Adamant Forging was Alex’s big Canadian dream and he pursued it with all he had. He was compiling picture portfolios of every metal gate, railing and chandelier out there to feed the design ideas. He has visited every tool shop in GTA and scoured the internet for every bit of know-how. He put his heart and soul into his work, bringing together quality and style, knowing that it will be enjoyed by many people around Toronto, both clients and passersby. He always knew that his work will outlast him and sometimes said: “I hope that one day many years from now, someone will look at my work with admiration and wonder about the master blacksmith that has brought it to life.”
As a person Alex was kind and honest. He was well read but never pretentious. He liked things simple and down to earth, always being direct and saying things how he saw them. He laughed loudly and enjoyed home cooking. His lighthearted nature attracted friendships wherever he went and he was loved by both family and friends. Above all he loved his family, especially his granddaughter Alina, which motivated him and gave him strength to beat cancer and face financial hardship and immigration setbacks.
In his final days, he was looking forward to his pension and was hopeful for the future of his family, having secured a property in Alberta. He had plans and wanted to travel, learn and try many new things. He was passionate about the world and Ukraine. He was still full of life when a sudden ailment brought him to Etobicoke General Hospital where he passed away on April 12, 2024 in the presence of his loving family.
He passed away knowing that his family loved him very much, especially his wife, son, daughter in law, granddaughter and in-laws.
We will always remember and miss him.
A visitation for Alexandr will be held on Friday, April 19, 2024 from 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. at MacKinnon Family Funeral Home, 55 Mill St. East, Acton, ON L7J1H4, followed by a funeral service at 3:00 p.m.
Cremation to follow.
Arrangements entrusted to MacKinnon Family Funeral Home