1929 – 2026

Christopher Gabriel-Lacki, born in Warsaw, Poland on April 22, 1929, has left on

his final adventure. He died peacefully due to complications associated with

Dementia with Lewy Bodies. He was pre-deceased by his parents, Janina Lacka

and Stanislaw Gabriel and son Dominik. He leaves behind his daughter, Barbara

and her mother, Christine as well as his wife, Linda.

A survivor of the Dachau concentration camp, Christopher was interned along

with his father for their involvement in the Polish resistance movement, his

experiences there as a young boy informed the rest of his life. He came to

Montreal in 1954 where he worked at many jobs and put himself through school

at night. He was hired by the Sir George Williams School of Art (now part of

Concordia University) as a lecturer and, over the years, rose to full professor. He

helped set up the Department of Design Art and taught there until he retired. He

also taught at the Cégep du Vieux Montréal, the Visual Arts Centre and Stewart

Hall among others, and, for many years (until the pandemic), led art workshops in

Sherbrooke.

Chris loved adventure in any form. He had his pilot's licence, flew small planes,

and loved being out on the water on his sailboat. He could build and fix just about

anything. He loved food and loved to entertain; his Christmas Eve Wigilia dishes

were legendary – not to mention his vodka!

He was naturally curious, always wanting to understand, and as a result, was

knowledgeable about many things. He loved animals of all stripes and had a

special place in his heart for the vulnerable, resulting in a long line of rescued

companions. They all seemed to sense that he was their champion, and every one

of them was fiercely loyal to him.

He will be greatly missed by his family, his many friends and generations of

students.