Zemlyak, Frank - Age 75, of Murphy’s Cove. It is with a sense of loss and deep sadness that we share the passing of Frank Zemlyak, a loving husband, father and experienced scientist on March 5, 2024. Frank will be dearly missed by his wife of 27 years, Anita (Lamey); and his daughters, Rosalee and Rebecca; and grandchildren, Savannah and Evan.
Born in Rijeka, Croatia, his family emigrated to Canada through Pier 21 in the 1950s. Frank is survived by his sister, Sonya of Halifax; and brother, Luke (Vivien) of Calgary. He is predeceased by his father, Franz; mother, Matilda; step-mother, Elvira; and brother, Joseph.
Frank was a longtime resident of the Ship Harbour area, first residing in DeBaies Cove and recently in Murphy’s Cove. Frank was a man of many talents and interests: a scuba diver, an amateur astronomer, a wonderful chef, an excellent craftsman and a world traveller. He enjoyed sailing his Alberg 29 Tachyon and sailed Boston-Halifax on the tall ship Mir. He and Anita enjoyed many visits to Europe, especially to Sweden to see dear friends, Leif and Marie Anderson.
Frank commenced his remarkable career in Oceanography in 1976, joining the Chemical Oceanography Division at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography. Transitioning to the Ocean Sciences Division in the mid-1990s, Frank continued to play a pivotal role in Canadian and international programs dedicated to unraveling the intricacies of ocean climate. His work took him to the Arctic and Antarctic regions and around the globe.
Frank was proud of his record of accumulated sea time spent conducting research on board the ships of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans including the CSS Hudson, CSS Baffin and CSS Dawson. For over a decade he was involved in an internationally coordinated hydrographic survey of the Labrador Sea. Data from this work contributed to the reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007.
He participated in the ground-breaking journey on the Swedish icebreaker Oden in 1991, when this historic expedition marked the first voyage to the North Pole by a non-nuclear powered ship. Frank participated in many expeditions to high latitudes on international vessels, including several expeditions on the I/B Oden, German R/V Polarstern and the Norwegian R/V Lance.
In 1994, he visited the North Pole again aboard the Louis S. St-Laurent as the Coast Guard vessel, along with the USCGC Polar Sea, becoming the first North American surface vessels to reach the North Pole.
During these expeditions he always made good friends with all aboard, not only the scientific party, but the whole crew from the deckhands to the captain. He was a natural entertainer and was often the life of the party on these long expeditions to remote regions.
His retirement in 2006 marked the end of an era, yet his legacy lives on in the scientific advancements he contributed to and in the memories of those fortunate enough to work alongside him. Frank always demonstrated a commitment to his work that went above and beyond the call of duty even under the most adverse circumstances that often would occur while working at sea.
Let us remember Frank as a man who embraced life with humour, love and quiet strength. He's now on his next adventure and will be missed by all who knew him.
Frank’s family and friends are invited to a Celebration of Life at the Petpeswick Yacht Club, 434 East Petpeswick Road, Musquodoboit Harbour, on Saturday, March 16, 2024 from 2 pm to 4 pm.
Donations in his name may be made to the ALS Society of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia or a charity of your choice.
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