Obituary of Andrew Michael Wyszkowski

Andrew Michael Wyszkowski passed away quietly on Sunday, February 8, 2026 after a long convalescence from a stroke in April 2019.  He was at peace, having shared a moment of quiet recognition and farewell with his beloved wife, Margaret Barbara Wyszkowski.

Andy was born in Lodz, Poland, on 23-Jun-1938 to Wladyslaw and Halina Wyszkowski. When WWII broke out the family fled the invading Nazi forces. Andy, and his older brother Paul, were taken by their grandparents and spinster aunt to Lwow (Lviv, Ukraine) for the duration of the war. Their mother, Halina, was captured by the Soviet troops and taken away. Their father, Wladyslaw, managed to escape through France and Portugal to Canada.

Under the post-war Soviet occupation, they were transported back to Lodz in 1946 by rail car, a journey which took 6 months.

Wladyslaw & Halina reunited in Canada in 1944, and soon after had their third son, Andy’s brother Charles. They were later successful in gaining sponsorship from the Canadian government to secure the release of the 2 boys in 1948 from Soviet-occupied Poland. 

Andy went to St. Michaels Choir School and then College in Toronto, where he prospered under the guidance and tutelage of the brothers and instructors. A model student, he gained admission to University of Toronto Electrical Engineering, where he made lifelong friends, which the couple enjoyed through a long, happy and prosperous time. Andy graduated from U of T in 1961.

Andy anticipated the development of the microprocessor and was fascinated with the unfolding future enhanced with computer technology.  He successfully entered the Wharton Business School in Philadelphia, PA, and was one of the first MBA graduates in 1965 of an emerging discipline that we now know as Information Technology (IT). Andy interned with Univac and wrote some of the code and many of the manuals that introduced the computing age to North American companies.

In hot demand, Andy was recruited by some of the top companies in North America.  A brief stint at Imperial Oil in Toronto was insufficiently exciting.  He transitioned to Bell Northern Labs in Ottawa to work on emerging computing technology and then joined a group of entrepreneurs to launch one of Canada's first computer service bureaus - Computel. 

Along the way, Andy and Margaret had three children - Michael, Katherine and Christopher.

A defining quality of Andy & Marg’s marriage was a year-long sabbatical in Europe. The kids went to boarding school in France, and the parents explored Europe in the way that you only can when you have lots of time to invest during each visit. They were based in Paris but connected deeply with many European capitals.

On return to Canada, Andy continued to prosper with Computel, which was eventually acquired by Royal Trust (one of their key customers). The family moved from Ottawa to Montreal, back to Ottawa, and then to Toronto. Andy was promoted to VP of IT, essentially becoming the first CIO of the company, until Royal Trust was acquired by an early Private Equity firm.

Andy was elected the President of the Polish Engineers in Toronto in the 80's, which was another opportunity to provide leadership, guidance and fellowship for the talented engineers migrating from Poland to join the thriving business community in Toronto.

Striking out on his own, Andy re-activated  Arts Communication Technology (ACT) Inc, which provided IT consulting services to firms in various industries. Andy did some foundational work with the Ontario Ministry of Health to modernize the IT infrastructure and develop a common platform for portable Patient Records management.

One gig led to another; Andy joined an international consulting firm that specialized in Health Care systems.  Working on programs funded by the World Health Organization (WHO), Andy helped to modernize and develop healthcare policies for Poland, Albania, Hungary, The Republic of Georgia, and eventually landing in Trinidad from where he retired. Margaret visited during these various assignments and enjoyed a long stay in sunny Trinidad where they made lasting friends.

Andy & Marg loved to travel, adventure, and make new friends along the way. A very social couple, they built on a foundation of lifelong friends from the first Polish camp in Barry's Bay and expanded to include friends from their various assignments and travels. Both Marg & Andy invested in these friendships, and shared a rich social and cultural life with others!

Retirement for Andy & Marg was shared between Toronto; summers at the cottage with friends and family; and winters in Naples, FL, where they enjoyed a very active, social lifestyle. Andy & Marg sponsored several trips with their grandchildren to Poland, so that the new generation could identify and connect with their Polish roots.

Andy & Marg loved to dance, they loved the theatre, they loved travel and good restaurants, and spending deep, quality time with their friends! Oh, yes, and a round of Canasta (or two...) was well enjoyed.

Andy is survived by his wife of 65 years, Margaret, and his three children Michael, Katherine and Christopher, and their growing families. Andy & Marg are grandparents to Erin & Kevin, and Grace & Anna; they recently became great-grandparents with the birth of Winter, Erin & Spencer's son.

There will be a Celebration of Andy's life later in the year when the family can gather from around North America. 

The family is asking that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Andy's name to Copernicus Lodge, on Roncesvalles Ave, Toronto, where Andy spent the last several years of his life. We are grateful to Copernicus Lodge and staff for the loving care they provided for Andy to make his stay comfortable, peaceful, and as rewarding as possible.