ROMAN DUNCAN KOZAK

Condolences & Memories (2 entries)

• Roman and I met through another friend, Reid Edwards, when I was still in high school in West Kildonan. Roman, his brother John, Andris Taskans, Bill Morris, and Glen Carruthers (the EK. boys) all soon became good friends of mine. Roman took me under his wing at the University of Winnipeg and helped support me at a very difficult time in my young life. Our friendship blossomed and we became engaged for a time. We left Winnipeg together to attend graduate school at Syracuse University; Roman worked towards his Master’s and PhD in Religious Studies and I worked on my Master’s in Theatre Arts. Our engagement didn’t last, but our friendship continued for several years until we finally lost touch. I was shocked at the news of his passing almost a year ago that I only just stumbled upon. Roman will forever live on in my memory as a generous, kind, (sometimes melancholic) soul who passionately loved music and writing poetry. He introduced me to Chopin’s Études, and he played Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata on the piano, brilliantly. - Posted by: Linda Lori Burgess Ruppel (A once-upon-a-time close friend) on: Jul 15, 2025

• Roman, Andris, and Harold - I met these folks in Carl Ridd's "Quest" class at the University of Winnipeg, and it changed my life. Roman was SO smart - and articulate, and humanly "all thumbs"! We read, and talked, and argued endlessly. It was exactly what university was supposed to be. Irreplaceable. - Posted by: Randi R. Warne, Ph.D. (university friend and housemate) on: May 01, 2025