Frederick Sirotek

Nov 13, 1929 - Mar 03, 2024

Frederick’s family regrets to announce the passing of Frederick Bedrich Sirotek
peacefully on March 3, 2024.

Fred was born in Prague, Czech Republic on the 13th of November 1929. As he was
about to graduate from the Technical High School, his country was taken over by the
communist party. After the harrowing Nazi experience and the intruding communist
party, he and his entire family escaped into Germany. Shortly after, he immigrated to
Canada in 1949 to start a new life and a construction business with his family.

Following in the footsteps of his father — who was a prominent builder in Prague, and
builder of the Czech Pavilions at the World’s Fair Expositions in Paris, Brussels, and
Chicago before the Second World War — Fred built almost too many buildings to count:
dozens upon dozens in Ottawa, more in other parts of Canada from New Brunswick to
London, Ont., to New York State, and on every major English speaking island in the
Caribbean between Antigua and Trinidad by the time he retired.

At the age of 27, he was asked to be one of the founding members of the new Rotary
Club of West Ottawa representing Commercial Construction. He went on to be a
Director of the Ottawa Construction Association as well as the Canadian Construction
Association.

For those in the micro software industry, Fred will be best remembered as an early
investor and first President (1981 – 1989) of Sir-tech Software, Inc. of New York, which
developed and published countless video game titles around the world.
He was instrumental in loosely establishing the building blocks for the formation of the
Software Publishers Association in Washington, D.C.

Fred co-founded Frantek Software Distributors Inc. in 1982 that became Canada’s
largest computer software wholesaler, which was sold in the 1990s to Ingram Micro.
In his later years he authored the book “One Percent Luck” which chronicled his youth
in the Czech Republic, the Second World War, his move to Canada, and his business
activities.

Fred is predeceased by his wife Nadia (Bostanjian) Sirotek (1994), loving sister Milu
Cada (2015), and long-time companion Gertrude Tracy (2020). Father of Robert
(Denise), and Norman (Valerie), and Linda (Ian), and daughter in-law Amy (Jamie).
Loving Grandfather of Amanda, Megan, Charles and Devon.
Fred will be missed by his family, extended family, Marcel (Denise), Ellen (David) and
Nancy (Carl), and friends. Special thanks are extended to the doctor, nurses,
management and staff at the Maplewood Retirement Community and to the doctors and
nurses for their care at the Ottawa General Hospital.

A gathering for friends to celebrate Fred’s life will be announced later, to be held during
this summer. A private service for family will be at the Pinecrest Cemetery to intern
Fred with his late wife Nadia.

Donations to either the Rotary Club of West Ottawa Charitable Foundation
(https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/rotary-club-of-west-ottawa-charitablefoundation/?
version=2&version=2) or to the nondenominational Catholic Centre for
Immigrants Foundation (https://cciottawa.ca), two causes dear to Fred, would be
appreciated.

ADD A MEMORY

6 Comments

  1. E Richard Fisher June 27, 2024 at 11:02 pm - Reply

    Fred was a truly wonderful down to earth guy who helped me on different occasions dating from the late 1980’s.
    Such a capable individual who leaves a positive impact on anyone lucky enough to have known him. Rest easily, dear friend!

  2. Richard Stead May 21, 2024 at 3:30 pm - Reply

    Our deepest sympathies to Robert, Amy and the girls. Richard and Karen Stead

  3. Michael Anderson March 21, 2024 at 3:55 pm - Reply

    Fred was an honerable and generous man, With all the ups and downs of his life, and there were many, his first thoughts were how to help others. He was a great guy, good friend, and wise mentor, In fact he became my rock during our adjustment to life in Canada. He will be well remembered.

  4. Farouq Samim March 15, 2024 at 9:11 pm - Reply

    May Fred’s soul rest in peace! He has left many great legacies in our world including some amazing work serving and benefiting many good causes and many mankind. His legacy also is leaving a wonderful family and big number of loyal and amazing friends.
    Our paths crossed when two of Fred’s friends and neighbours, Denise and Marcel reached out to me and let me know that Fred wanted his household items to be donated to the new Afghan refugees in town. While he was transitioning to long term care home, he donated a truck full of many items to refugee families in town whose lives were positively touched by those items and his generosity. The refugee families are still benefiting from those needed items. May his soul rest in peace and may his memories always cherish among those whom Fred loved and whom he supported!
    Friends and families of Fred: I am so sorry for your loss!

    Respectfully,
    Farouq Samim
    Co-Founder, Operation Abraham, and a former Afghan refugee in Ottawa, Canada

  5. E Richard Fisher March 14, 2024 at 7:20 pm - Reply

    In the late 1980’s, Fred was a generous contributor to Rotary’s Polio plus, the very first person I contacted.
    He was also a smart investment person, who helped me when I’d only re entered the investment business. A dear guy, who will be widely missed,

    My sincere condolences to his family, rest easily, dear Fred.

  6. Sucha Mann March 14, 2024 at 4:53 pm - Reply

    What an uplifting life and contribution our honourable Canadian FREDERICK SIROTEK made to make our world a better place. Thank you Frederick.

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