IOPC Funds regret to announce the sad passing of Mr Jerry Rysanek

It is with great sadness that the Director must announce that the Chairman of the joint Audit Body of the 1992 Fund and Supplementary Fund, Mr Jerry Rysanek (Canada), has passed away after a short illness. Mr Rysanek had contributed to the work of the IOPC Funds for almost 25 years and this news will undoubtedly come as a deep shock to his many friends and colleagues.

Mr Rysanek first represented Canada at meetings of the IOPC Funds’ governing bodies in 1995 and went on to become a prominent, knowledgeable and well-respected voice within IOPC Funds’ meetings. He was Chairman of the 1992 Fund Executive Committee from 2002–2004 and was elected Chairman of the 1992 Fund Assembly in 2005, a position which he held until 2011 when he retired from Transport Canada. During his time as Chairman, Mr Rysanek led the 1992 Fund Assembly through some very difficult discussions and a number of unforeseen challenges, and he always did so with great skill, diplomacy and humour. The IOPC Funds were very fortunate that he then chose to continue to contribute to the work of the organisation and was elected Chairman of the joint Audit Body in 2014, where his leadership and dedication were always greatly appreciated by his fellow Audit Body members.

First and foremost, our thoughts are with his wife, Marta, their two sons, Adam and Mark, and his grandchildren, to whom the Director extends the heartfelt condolences of all the staff of the IOPC Funds and of the wider IOPC Funds’ family.

In informing the Director of the regretful news, the Rysanek family have expressed the great pride Mr Rysanek had felt, not only to have been a part of the Canadian delegation in his career at Transport Canada, but also to have later become a Chairman, representing the interests of the IOPC Funds directly.

The IOPC Funds also extends its deepest sympathies to Mr Rysanek’s former colleagues at Transport Canada.

Jerry was undoubtedly a very special person who will be sorely missed by all who knew him, and he will be a great loss to the IOPC Funds’ family.