Frank William Sasinek

Frank Sasinek was born 6 June 1934 in the village of Skalica, in what is now Slovakia to Jozef and Stefania Sasinek. He was the middle of three children, and was born in the same house as his namesake, Frantisek V Sasinek, a priest who was influential in the development of the Slovak culture and the grammar rules for the language.

His childhood was difficult due to the Second World War, and shortly afterwards he lost his father. The family then moved to Bratislava where he got his university degree in photojournalism after his military service following high school. In the early 1960s, Frank was asked to photograph the First Communicants at a church in a small village about a half-hour away from Bratislava. The young woman helping to coordinate the children caught his eye and Frank, speaking to the priest afterwards, said “That’s the girl I am going to marry.” The priest laughed quietly, and told the young lady later, “He’s way too old for you.” Frank would continue to photograph the new communicants and their coordinator for the next few years, until he eventually worked up the nerve to speak to her. Her name was Irena Tesi. They would “coincidentally” meet at the hospital where Irena was studying several times before she finally accepted his invitation for a date in the summer of 1963.

In 1968, when the Russian army slipped in and occupied Czechoslovakia, Frank being in the middle of the events, photographed the happenings for the newspaper. One of his images appeared on the front page and drew the attention of the Russian authorities. Frank’s editor said “If you don’t disappear, you’ll be sent to Siberia.” Frank hurried to the hospital and told his fiancée that if she doesn’t marry him, he’s going to let the Russians capture him. “Okay, okay, I’ll marry you,” was her answer, and they were married that evening. Fleeing into Austria just a few hours before the borders were officially sealed, they arrived in Vienna. They visited the Embassies of the United States and Australia, and were told that there are lengthy waiting lists for immigration, but there was a flight leaving for Canada in a couple of weeks. On the 13th of October, they arrived in Canada, staying in Pier 21 for the first several weeks, taking English language lessons and learning about Canadian culture, particularly things such as white bread and root beer.

Life in Canada was very different from what they had known in Slovakia. Frank found work as a photographer for the Dartmouth Free Press and later for the Jarvis Photo Studio in Halifax, as well as a worker in the Hotel Nova Scotia, while Irena worked in the IWK Hospital and studied Cytology. Frank then landed a job in the new audio-visual department of the Dalhousie Medical Faculty in the Tupper Building, across the street from the Path Labs where Irena worked, a job he held for 25 years. Sons Frank Silvester and Martin Jozef came along in due time, and with them came changes that allowed Frank to explore his handyman skills, working on the homes where they lived and the cottage they bought.

Discovering St. Theresa’s church in Halifax, Frank and the family became involved with many activities, with Frank becoming the unofficial parish photographer, as well as a Minister of the Eucharist and even an Altar Server, following the examples of his sons. He always remained generous to charities and was quick to offer help and drives to anyone who requested.

On 6 January 2015, Frank and Irena were walking home from Adoration after the morning Mass, when suddenly Frank’s arm slipped from Irena’s own. When she looked back, his head was bouncing off of the sidewalk. He had a heart condition called Bradycardia which no one knew about, and it stopped his heart at that moment, however the physical shock of the impact was enough to restart it. The impact was also enough to cause a skull fracture behind his right ear. The sliver of bone shot through his head and severed his auditory nerve, causing instant deafness in that ear and robbing him of his balance.

Life was forever changed for the family. Needing a walker to move about, a pacemaker and a hearing aid was just the beginning. A man who was fiercely independent now required constant attention and care. But the accident also was able to form a deeper connection between the family and the Lord. Seven years later on Friday the 4th of March, Frank woke up with a terrible cough and blue fingers. The ambulance rushed him to the hospital where it was revealed he had suffered a massive heart attack. The injuries from 2015 had finally caught up with him and his breathing became more and more laboured. After a long night’s vigil with his wife and children around him, Frank’s breathing finally slowed and at 2:10 in the afternoon, he was finally still.

Frank was predeceased by his parents and siblings. He is survived by his loving wife Irena, sons F Silvester and Martin J (Stefanie), grandchildren M Jozsi and Avalon, and Colyer (Jessie).

The family wishes to gratefully acknowledge the wonderful care given by the Emergency Department of the Halifax Infirmary, the kindness of the Franciscans of Halifax, the care provided by Steven from Bayshore and NS Continuing Care. The support and well-wishes given so freely to the family from friends and neighbours has been overwhelmingly appreciated.

Any donations may be given in his name to the Franciscans of Halifax and to the Alzheimer’s Society.

Thank you for being part of our lives.