elevated F53vE May 24, 1948 – January 30, 2025

elevated F53vE Funeral Mass
Saturday, April 5, 2025 at 3:00 p.m.
Chapel of St. Joseph at Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home
211 Langstaff Road East, Thornhill, Ontario, L3T 3Z6

elevated F53vE Click here to view the Funeral Mass

elevated F53vE Obituary
Sadly, our caring, wise and witty Albert “Al” Witzig passed away peacefully on January 30, 2025, at the age of 76.  Our “man for all seasons” was a beloved husband to Judith, loving father to Michael, a dear brother to Ann Lesser and numerous cousins throughout upstate New York and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).  He was a beloved husband to Carmen Rios Witzig (deceased).  Al will be remembered by his lifelong friends, business associates, and all whose lives he touched.

elevated F53vE A native of Buffalo, New York, Al completed a master’s in Theology from the Collegium Canisianum in Innsbruck, Austria and a master’s in Public and International Affairs/Urban and Regional Planning from Princeton University in New Jersey.  His lifelong fascination with trains and transit and his fluent German resulted in internships and continuing friendships in Berlin, Aachen, and Wuerzburg, Germany, as well as in Copenhagen, Denmark.  Along the way, he honed his love for motorcycles and beer.  Al worked for both New Jersey and New York City Transit before moving into consulting with Fluor Daniels, Frederick R. Harris, DMJM Harris and AECOM.  Here in the GTA he worked with Delcan.  Al’s work brings daily congestion relief to many in southern California with the Metrolink commuter rail system and here in the GTA with the VIVA bus and the soon to open Finch Light Rail line.  His work in highspeed rail with the Florida High Speed Rail project and magnetic levitation work expanded his knowledge and reach.  His final project was a contribution to a new light rail line in Jerusalem, Israel. 

elevated F53vE Social justice and community service were fundamental to Al’s being.  Al’s public policy and community service were brought to the fore as a CORO Fellow in southern California. He served on the Refugee Resettlement Committee of St. Luke’s Parish, contributing to the successful immigration of several refugee families. He furthered this work with additional parishes with the Archdiocese of Toronto.  He served on a community relations board in Staten Island and more recently was an active member of the Thornhill Federal Liberal Association: contributing, door knocking for candidates and serving at the polls on election day.  Al was never prouder than when he cast his first vote as a Canadian Citizen in 2021. 

elevated F53vE Al’s greatest accomplishment was being a Dad to Michael.  Together they had epic road trips to New York and from California to Thornhill; building great driving skills, wonderful, shared memories and a love of motorcycles.  His antique BMW R5/75, veteran of several cross-country road trips, awaits Michael.

elevated F53vE Music provided the grace notes in Al’s life.  Early days of Peter, Paul and Mary, a favorite concert of Simon and Garfunkel, the Hoboken Festivals, and love of Jazz, were rounded out by more classical singing.  He was a member of the Princeton Glee Club and reconnected with choral music as a member of Markham’s Village Voices choir for a dozen years.  His deep bass voice was heard during his final days singing along with a selection of Handel’s Messiah.  As Al said, “what is a day without a little Mozart?”  He truly was a man for all seasons.

elevated F53vE In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Parkinsons Canada.  https://www.parkinson.ca/get-involved/personal-giving/