Andrew Chyla

Dr. Andrew Stan / Andrzej Stanisław Chyla (June 29, 1937 -February 1, 2026)

It is with shocked and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Dr. Andrew Chyla, Physician, avid skier, sailor, world traveller, reader and radio listener, and beloved father of Kathy/Kasia and Tom/Tomek (Beata) and Dziadek to Lukas, Alex and Max.

Andrew was proudly born in a newly independent Poland and made it through childhood during WWII. As a private man, he didn’t speak much of those days, but there was an incident with a chicken coop he would often share with us to remind us to always thank our angels and lucky stars. Andrew grew up in Communist Poland, which shaped his later lifelong beliefs and instilling in his children the need to always pay attention to world affairs. Following in his parents' (Stanislaw and Janina) in their medical career footprints, Andrew found his passion in being a physician. His friendships from medical school in Warsaw were fundamental in both his and his family’s life, especially in emigration where they became chosen family to his children. Leaving behind his mother, and three sisters, Maryla, Ela and Malgosia, Andrew escaped from Poland in 1968, to England via Ireland, where a parish priest granted him a visa to stay in the UK.

In England, Andrew met the mother of his children, Lidia, who was the little sister of his sister’s friend. His mother said to look after Sophie’s sister… and the joke was that from the day they met, dad was looking after her like his mom told him to. The marriage may not have lasted, but the gratitude and love in raising Tom and Kathy was never in question.

Andrew and Lidia, expecting, chose Canada for their first child to be born in. Andrew became an extremely proud Canadian. He instilled in his children that pride of living in a country that allowed him the freedom to think, laugh and love, the knowledge that it cannot be taken for granted.

That love for his adopted home truly came to the forefront when he continued his medical career on the West Coast of Newfoundland. Andrew brought his family to St. Georges, where he was the respected community doctor for over a decade. His career then took him to Woody Point, where the community also took him in, and treated him as a member of the family.

Andrew came to truly love his home in Newfoundland, and spent many years exploring it, from the water in his kayak, to skiing, both downhill and cross country. He explored the wilds of “The Rock” while moose hunting, and when hiking every trail he could find. He loved to share the hidden gems of the island with friends and family from near and far. Every year he had visitors of family and friends come and partake in the beauty and uniqueness of his beloved island. His home was his castle. Every day he took the time to walk down to his beach and shoreline to take in the view and be thankful. In the summer he would always make an almost pilgrimage to Woody Point to for a crab fest with his adopted family of Debbie, Charlie and Marigold. He would then return to his castle in St George’s to enjoy a drink or two with his neighbour Walter, with whom he could be described with affection as the Grumpy Old Men.

Andrews university friendships became the buddies of a lifetime. He would go skiing and sailing every year with them to a new ski resort, a new lake, a new sea, or corner of the world’s oceans, exploring the world. That love was passed on to his children and grandchildren, who have now taken on the mantle of the next generation of outdoor sport enthusiasts.

It was on one of these trips that he met his next partner in life, Stefania, who he married later in life. Together they came into his retirement years, exploring and traveling the world together. He then split his time between his two homes of Newfoundland and Poland.

It was in these years that Andrew finally retired from Medicine, giving up his medical licence just before his 80th birthday.

Andrew knew he wasn’t a perfect person, but he did everything to give his children and grandchildren everything he could of himself.

After battling Lymphoma in the last 18 months, going through heavy chemotherapy like it was a double black diamond ski run – head on, Andrew was looking forward to spending the coming years of his remission in his beloved home, where his daughter had come home to help him through some health challenges in 2024.

While home in October and November, they made plans for Andrew in the coming years so that he could continue to live independently and in his own way, mowing his lawn on his beloved “tractor”.

Sadly, enroute to Poland for his final medical meetings with his oncology team there, he fell ill and was unable to continue his journey.

In the end, Andrew left very suddenly, and we believe at his choice, letting his heart stop, probably knowing more than we did about his condition.

We wish to thank the amazing medical teams at Humber River Hospital in Toronto for all their care and the same passion for their craft of healing that dad shared his whole life. We all were working to bring dad home.

At his request, Andrew will be cremated, with memorials and services to follow in Poland and Newfoundland. Details will be shared in coming weeks.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that you help support the Canadian Medical Community help emergency situations around the world. CMAT – the Canadian Medical Assistance Team was first on the ground at the Polish Ukrainian boarder helping refugees. Please consider donating to them through their Canada Helps web portal.

https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/cmat-canadian-medical-assistance-teams/

You can also send an e-transfer directly to donations@cmat.ca. Please add a note that it is in memory of Andrew.

In the meantime, dad only wanted one thing – for you to have a drink, and play Those Were The Days/To były piękne dni, preferably sung by Maryla Rodowicz, and toast your memories with him.

The family would love to read your stories and memories of Andrew and encourage you to leave a few words below.

A memorial book will be later printed to ensure his grandsons will be able to enjoy memories of their Dziadek in the future.