Obituary
Whether you knew him as Gabriel, Gaby, Gab, Gabe, Larry or Dad you definitely knew when he was in the room! He was a generous spirit, would give you the shirt off his back, and everyone loved him.
Gabriel Larry Kozma passed away suddenly in the warmth and sunshine of an unusually fine autumn morning on Thursday, October 14, 2021, with his Mum Monique (as she always was) at his side. He was 60 years young.
Gab is predeceased by his father Leslie Kozma (Budapest, Hungary), and is survived by his Mother Monique (nee Proulx, Ryland, Ontario), loving children Jonathan Kozma and Lisa Kozma, ex-wife Delilah (nee Gomes), devoted sisters Cathy (Mike Weissenborn) Kozma, Mona (Robert) Cormier and Suzanne (George) Zacharczyk, and nieces and nephew Amanda and Melissa Cormier, and Kenneth Zacharczyk. All are devastated by his loss at such a young age.
Born in Toronto, ON, on July 10, 1961, Gaby grew up in the Annex neighbourhood. He attended Palmerston and Essex Senior Public Schools and Harbord Collegiate Institute. After school hours he was a fixture at St.Alban’s Boys & Girls Club and the Bill Bolton Arena, both just down the street from home, where he loved to play sports of all sorts. Every summer he begged to attend Camp Genessee, run by St. Alban’s and located near Powassan, ON. He also spent a number of summers with the Proulx side of the family in Ryland and Hearst, and truly loved nature and Ontario’s North.
Everyone agrees … Gaby lived life the way he wanted. He loved Rock and Roll, Hard Rock music and attending live concerts. One of his favourite songs was the Allman Brothers Band’s “Ramblin’ Man”. He enthusiastically played the guitar for years, until an industrial accident to his right hand.
For over 20 years he worked side by side with his parents in the family businesses, Canvas Craft, Arts & Mirrors and Advanced Plastics (all in Toronto). He later set up his own operation, A&M Sales (Shop on Bloor Street West, in Oshawa) as a picture framing specialist. He had also many loyal customers and friends at the Stouffville Farmer’s Market and later the Courtice Flea Market, where he ran a Limited Edition Prints and framing business for 15 years.
An avid golfer, he’d often be found at Centennial Park Golf Course (and many others around the GTA), usually with brother-in-law Dando. A real sports fanatic, “his teams” were the Minnesota Vikings, Toronto Argos, Toronto Blue Jays, and the Toronto Maple Leafs, and following and cheering for them fulfilled his later years. He also loved to watch (and critique) golf on TV.
The last 10 years had been tough for Gaby, as he battled numerous cancers, and more recently was a Dialysis patient, known at UHN as Larry Kozma (due to a Health Card mix-up). Many thanks to the dedicated and tireless staff at Toronto Western and Toronto General Hospitals for their absolutely wonderful care over the years. FYI, he even came to love Low-Potassium eating.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to St. Alban’s Boys & Girls Club (now known as BGC St.Alban’s) in support of their new children and youth Summer Camp, “Camp Howland”, near Minden, ON … he would love to have them name a “street” at the Camp as “Gabe’s Way”, dedicated in his honour. Online donations can be made at https://www.stalbansclub.ca/donate0e881ef1
All his friends, family, the artistic community and medical support professionals will sorely miss Gabe’s / Larry’s good spirits, laughter, crazy jokes, and honey gifts. He looks forward to having “a toast” with you in Heaven.
If you wish to reach out the family please do so at [email protected]. Cremation and Interment services will be private for the family. Further details about a “Celebration of Life” event will be available soon.
