Hundreds attend funeral for TTC worker killed on the job
Posted September 19, 2012 5:23 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Hundreds of people gathered at an East York church to pay final respects to TTC worker Peter Pavlovski, who was killed on the job last week. The commission also halted service for one minute Wednesday morning in remembrance.
Pavlovski’s funeral was held at St. Clement of Ohrid Macedonian Orthodox Church on Overlea Boulevard.
“Just look at that picture and that smile. Whenever he came to work, his smile was there. It was always there,” Pavlovski’s coworker Derek Borg told CityNews.
“He’s going to be missed. The way he died is just unfair.”
The 49-year-old subway tunnel and track foreman was killed Friday morning when he was hit by a subway work train just north of Yorkdale station. He leaves behind his wife Gina and their three children, Kelsey, 13, Andrew, seven, and Marissa, also seven.
Busloads of Pavlovski’s transit colleagues arrived at the church ahead of the 10 a.m. service. The transit employees saluted as his casket was carried into the church.
Pavlovski’s niece Melanie spoke during the service.
“The main lessons he taught us were the importance of family, the importance of laughter, the importance of fairness and most importantly, to always express your love to the ones you care about. You will live on in our hearts forever,” she said.
Commission CEO Andy Byford, who described the 22-year TTC veteran as a “very respected, very senior and very capable member of staff” said he encouraged any employees who could to attend the service. TTC chair Karen Stintz also was present.
Pavlovski’s niece spoke through tears during the service and said her uncle had a “distinct” and “contagious” smile. She also said he often talked about his job at the TTC.
Byford thanked customers for their understanding of the brief halt in service.
“This is obviously something we only do on very special occasions and we do appreciate our customers bearing with us on this,” Byford said.
The Ministry of Labour is investigating the cause of the accident, in which another TTC worker was injured. He is expected to make a full recovery.
In lieu of flowers, friends and others can make donations to the SickKids Foundation. Online condolences can be found at heritagefuneralcentre.ca.
