Death
of Shaun Chapko
October 22,
2006
Brothers and Sisters,
On the plane home from Calgary I wrote a short eulogy for Bob
Martin, whose memorial I attended yesterday. When I got off the
plane there was a message for me that a good friend had died this
morning. I called his home and spoke with his brother, Sheldon,
who sent out the following e-mail,
In a message dated 22/10/2006 2:24:35 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
shaun.chapko@shaw.ca writes:
Hello Everyone,
This is Shaun's brother Sheldon. I am e-mailing you to announce
in deepest regret of the passing away of Shaun Chapko. Shaun
passed away in his sleep this weekend. We have no details as
to how or why this happened, but that he is in God's hands now.
Your thoughts and prayers would be deeply appreciate for Shaun.
The reason for this tragic event via e-mail, is that Shaun has
many contacts around the world and I could not phone everyone
personally. So if you were in Shaun's e-mail address book you
were a friend of his either it be school, work or anything.
For further information please contact:
-(204)222-5848 Len, Pat, or Sheldon Chapko
-sheldonchapko@hotmail.com
God Bless,
Sheldon Chapko
For those
of you who knew Shaun, your world just got a little darker. For
those who never had the honour of getting to know him, I feel
sorry for you. Because all the pain that I'm feeling today is
such a small price to pay for getting to know and love this guy.
Shaun was injured at work on CN Rail a number of years ago. It
was a BTMF accident that caused him to suffer sever trauma to
his head. When I saw the pictures of the truck, it was a miracle
he survived. Yes he suffered brain damage, but it did not diminish
his intelligence. Shaun was fiercely intelligent and dedicated.
Dedicated to trade unionism and to the safety of workers everywhere.
He didn't care what Union you were in, or even if you were in
a Union, he was there to provide help.
I got to know Shaun while we were still BMWE and stayed friends
with him through the changes that saw him become a Steelworker
(reluctantly) and me become a Teamster. Though he was plagued
by dizziness, migraines and fatigue, he was tireless in his battles
for safety, fairness and decency in the workplace. I never went
more than a couple of days without exchanging e-mails with him
and got at least two or three phone calls a month (with my schedule,
it was hard to hook up). These were usually at my home, on a Sunday
afternoon. We would talk about politics, about labour, weightlifting,
harleys, the Habs, the Jays, but most importantly.... about safety
for workers.
I was supposed to go out to dinner with Shaun this week 'cause
I'm headed to Winnipeg for that Labour Board complaint against
HBR. And its Sunday today and I won't be talking to him, either.
Shaun used to say that he admired me. He was always so supportive
and he never failed to send a note on my birthday and all holidays
or a congratulation on any wins that we had or a condolence for
a fallen brother (he was the only steelworker on my group send).
But here's the real truth. I admired Shaun. I looked up to him.
I respected him and I am truly a better person for having known
him and for him calling me his friend. He was kind and gentle,
smart and tireless. And he was the toughest and bravest man I
have ever met. He never complained about his lot in life or the
tribulations that God sent his way. He endured them stoically
and to the rest of us, he was always in good humour. And he triumphed.
Shaun, if you can see this.... you are the kind of man that we
are all trying to be and if I can ever be half the man that you
were, then I'll have something to be proud of.
God took you far too soon, little brother and I miss you already.
Your friend forever,
Bill Brehl
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