Blog

Close-up detail of several black red wine bottles lined up, stacked and resting diagonally on wooden shelves in a wine cellar from a luxury private collection.

The first time I met Marc was when he and Kiera were living in the place near the Gardiner Expressway. Kiera had told me her boyfriend was a shorter gentleman who worked in finance. I was very skeptical originally because everyone like that I had met previously was someone I did not want to spend any time with. However, after meeting Marc, any notions I had of him being a not so nice person were immediately put to rest. We spent a while on the balcony getting to know each other while grilling steaks. We bonded over things like how much we liked wine, and how loud Kiera can be for such a small person. After spending half an hour with him, I knew that he was an amazing person and I was so happy that Marc and Kiera had found each other.&nbsp;Peter Wright

We Bonded Over Wine

I met Marc in grad school, and from day one, he stood out. He was wicked smart—the kind of person you half-joked could teach the class instead of take it. But even if he wasn’t standing at the front of the room, he was still a teacher. If you so much as mentioned the word “finance,” Marc would light up, pull up a chair, and walk you through even the most complex concepts with ease (and probably a stock tip or two). He loved sharing what he knew—not to impress, but because he genuinely wanted to help others grow.Marc cared deeply about people. He was generous with his time, always willing to explain, support, and cheer others on. He had this rare ability to balance brilliance with humility, and humor with heart. And when it came time to have fun—Marc was the life of the party. First on the dance floor, last to leave, always bringing energy, laughter, and that unmistakable spark.Life has a way of pulling us in different directions, and while we didn’t see each other often, I truly cherished every reunion. That’s why it’s so hard to accept that someone as vibrant and full of life as Marc could be gone.Of all the things Marc accomplished in the decade I knew him—and there were many—the most joyful I ever saw him was when he talked about his two great loves: Kiera and Drew.&nbsp;Andrea Coletta

Marc Was Wicked Smart

<figure id="figure-g2tfk4t36qmbvvyzi4"><img id="g2tfk4t36qmbvvyzi4" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/22QDNVM2eyvs9jxdh8JtyGWhP2W4LuI2baKXeuG47Gh4OpklgYoOSCDBlx8K6oZa.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/22QDNVM2eyvs9jxdh8JtyGWhP2W4LuI2baKXeuG47Gh4OpklgYoOSCDBlx8K6oZa.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>When I sat down to talk about Marc and Drew, I knew I wouldn’t be able to get it all out in one go.There’s just so much. Too many little moments that added up to something big. But I knew I had to start somewhere, because Drew deserves something he can come back to. Something that helps him feel, without a doubt, how deeply he was loved.If I were sitting in front of Drew right now, I’d begin with the most important thing. I love you. I’ve always loved you and I always will. I’m here for you, no matter what. You’ve always had me and I always will be in your corner, here supporting and loving you. I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it. I will always be here for you Drew, you will never have to doubt that. I love you so much my love.&nbsp;There was our little family. Marc, Drew, and me. I was so lucky and blessed to be part of it. Lucky that Marc let me in. Even luckier that Drew welcomed me. That’s something I’ll never forget and always be beyond grateful for. Marc opened the door, but it was both Drew and Marc who made me feel like I truly belonged.I used to tell Marc all the time that Drew was the greatest gift I had ever been given. He really is my world. He changed my life. And Marc knew that. He was so proud of Drew. Not in a surface-level way, but in that deep, full-body kind of pride. Drew wasn’t just his son. He was his best friend. The absolute love of his life. His light and His reason for everything.Marc worried sometimes that he wasn’t doing enough or that he was messing it up. I’d always remind him he was doing an incredible job. In Drew’s eyes Marc was his hear, strong daddy. There’s no parenting manual. And even if there was one, Marc would have chucked it and just done what felt right. That was his way. He led with love, with real presence, with a full heart.There are so many memories, but a few still make me smile every time. The dad jokes. Those were something else. He went all in. And now, Drew tells the same kind of jokes, with the same grin. &nbsp;Then there were the classic dad moments. Marc made us go to Legoland even though no one else wanted to. He was the guy who picked the biggest pumpkin at the patch and carried it around like a badge of honour. He was the dad who made sure that every Christmas, Halloween, Easter, thanksgiving and all the rest were made so special and with endless memories and love. He loved being a dad. It wasn’t just a role. It was something he poured his whole self into.I said this at the funeral, but I’ll say it again. Marc’s world was Drew. Always was. And if there’s one thing I want Drew to hold onto forever, it’s that his dad loved him beyond measure. There is no word that fully captures it. He was proud, amazed, and in awe of Drew every single day.There are so many more stories I want to share with Drew, and I will, over time. But for now, I want him to know this. You were everything to your dad. And you are everything to me. We love you more than words can ever really say. And me, along with a whole community of people who loved your dad, will always be here to help you stay close to him.I love you so much Drew and always will and will be here for you always and forever.&nbsp;Kiera

The Greatest Gift

Image of row of three sliced pizzas in cardboard takeaway pizza boxes, pepperoni, margherita and chicken, mushroom and black olive pizza, blue wood grain background, elevated view

I didn’t know Marc very well, but what I did know was that every time we crossed paths in the Zon, he always had a smile.He had a quick wit and a funny take on all kinds of things, but he always delivered it in such a soft, calm way. He was kind, warm, and based on my interactions with him, he was what I’d call “good people.”Most of all, he was an amazing and caring father to Drew.One moment that really stuck with me was Drew’s birthday party. Marc had over-ordered Domino’s because he was worried there wouldn’t be enough food. There was so much left that we ended up raffling off a whole pizza at the end. Absolute legend.Emil Calixterio

You Can Never Have Too Much Pizza

The first time I really got to know Marc was during one unforgettable weekend his first summer at The Zon. I think Kiera was away that weekend, and it was peak pandemic. Our backyard looked like a cross between a million-dollar trailer park and a discount carnival. There were multiple blow-up pools, lawn chairs scattered everywhere, and an explosion of kids’ toys. It was 35 degrees, and somehow every adult ended up sitting in one of those plastic pools, half-submerged, drinks in hand.That’s when I first experienced Marc’s sharp wit and dry humour. He was riffing on Trudeau, jokes I won’t dare repeat but I was laughing uncontrollably. He just kept going, one after another. And then, mid-laugh, he looked me straight in the eye and said, more than once, “This is a great day.”And he meant it.Marc was so present, so attentive, so genuinely grateful in that moment. I remember going home that night and saying to my wife, “That guy’s a legend.”Anthony Lipkin

A Great Day Indeed

Gameplay of an Off-Road Racing Video Game in Futuristic Sci-Fi Fantasy Space. Computer Generated 3D Render of Car Driving Fast and Drifting on Futuristic Road. VFX Illustration. Third-Person View.

We hadn’t been in the neighbourhood very long when Marc got sick, so I didn’t really get the chance to know him deeply. But in the few moments we shared, like quick chats and passing smiles, he always struck me as someone genuinely lovely. Warm, thoughtful, and above all, a really devoted dad.There’s one moment that’s stuck with me. It was Drew’s birthday, not long before Marc passed. He had arranged for a games truck to come right to the street. Looking back, it felt like more than just a fun idea. It felt like Marc was giving Drew a memory. Something big and joyful to hold onto.What really got me was seeing Marc that day. He looked tired. You could tell he was in real pain. But he stayed outside as long as he could, watching Drew in that truck with a look I’ll never forget. So much love, quiet pride, and that deep kind of joy you only see when someone is fully present, even in the hardest moment.That image has never left me. It’s a reminder that showing up and truly being there is one of the most powerful things we can do for the people we love. Marc did that for Drew. Right to the end, he gave him everything he had.And that kind of love doesn’t just stay with one person. It stays with all of us.Nic Rennie

Our Stories

We Bonded Over Wine

Marc Was Wicked Smart

The Greatest Gift

You Can Never Have Too Much Pizza

A Great Day Indeed

Drew's Birthday Games Truck