TORONTO, Ont. — John Cyopeck, the CEO of Canpar LLC who had been fighting such a valiant and inspiring battle with brain cancer, passed away this Easter weekend. He was 61.

The widely-respected Cyopeck was also chairman of the Canadian Trucking Alliance and vice-chairman of the Ontario Trucking Association.

“Many have lost a friend and mentor. The entire trucking industry has lost one of its true gentlemen and finest leaders,” commented David Bradley, head of the Canadian Trucking Alliance and the Ontario Trucking Association.

Cyopeck’s battle with brain cancer over the last year and a half was well-known. Still, the news of his passing came as a great shock.

“Many of us had been with John just a few days before at the CTA annual meeting. While it was clear that his illness, surgery and the treatments he had received were taking a toll on John, nobody anticipated that the end would come so soon. We all wanted so badly for him to beat his cancer. For the longest time he seemed to be doing so marvellously well and had inspired all of us to believe; to be positive; and to be charitable to others even less fortunate,” Bradley said.

“My last words to him now seem so ironic. In providing the CEO’s report at the AGM, I told John what a privilege it had been to work with and for him during his first year as chairman. I spoke for all when I said what an example of courage, of decency, and of selflessness he and Maureen had set for all of us. But, I also said to him that while he had accomplished so much during the preceding year, I know that if he could, he would have wanted to slow time down. John looked at me and nodded.”

Cyopeck accomplished much during his lengthy career in transportation, including the resurrection of Canpar. But during the last year he likely had more impact on more people’s lives than most of us could hope for in an entire lifetime.

His Delivering a Dream campaign on behalf of the Trillium Health Centre, raised a large amount of money for cancer treatment.

“The campaign was a success not because John was sick, but because of the man himself. The industry would have rallied around John had he been in perfect health. That is how admired he was,” Bradley said.

Cyopeck is survived by his wife Maureen Freeman, and his children Johnny, Kim, Paige and Alex.

Friends may call at the Turner & Porter Peel Chapel, 2180 Hurontario Street, Mississauga (Hwy. 10 N. QEW) 2-4 and 6-9 pm on Thursday and 5-9 pm on Friday. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Patrick’s Church, 921 Flagship Dr. (at Tomken) on Saturday April 22 at 11 am. If desired, donations in John’s memory may be made to Gerry and Nancy Pencer Brain Tumour Centre, c/o Princess Margaret Hospital or Trillium Health Centre-Mississauga.