Jim Nihda
1930 – 2022
Visitation
Wednesday, June 22, 2022 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 23, 2022 from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home
211 Langstaff Road East, Thornhill, Ontario, L3T 3Z6
Funeral Mass
Thursday, June 23, 2022 at 1:30 p.m.
Chapel of St. Joseph at Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home
Obituary
Jim passed away peacefully at Sts. Peter and Paul (Ukrainian) Retirement Residence in his 92nd year, of complications following a stroke.
Beloved husband of the late Jeni Bobinski and beloved father of the late Jeffrey Nihda; cherished father of Chris (Barbara) and Rick (Tracy); loving grandfather (Grampy) of Kelly, Amber, Taylor, Lauren, and Ashlyn; dearly loved brother of the late Fred Nihda and Elizabeth Tokarsky; Jim touched many hearts and will be sorely missed.
Jim was born in Toronto to parents Victor and Rose Nihda on January 1, 1930. He grew up in Toronto and married Jeni on September 11, 1954.
Jim started his broadcast career with 1050 CHUM in Toronto before moving to CKLB (CKDO) in Oshawa in 1951. Jim later moved to the CBC in Toronto in 1951, where he started as a radio technician. He covered Royal visits in the 1950s and 1960s, and met Queen Elizabeth and her late husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, in Quebec City in 1959. Jim also travelled with the CBC’s “Canada Entertains” group via the Royal Canadian Air Force, where he single-handedly produced shows for Canada’s NATO and United Nations peace-keeping troops in England, Germany, France, Italy, and the Gaza Strip, Palestine. Shows included legendary Canadian entertainers Tommy Hunter and Juliette. These shows were later re-broadcast on radio across Canada. In addition, Jim brought The Happy Gang and The Rhythm Pals to Canadian audiences. Jim also helped to deliver entertainment to our troops in Churchill, Manitoba and Resolute Bay.
Jim’s technical skills earned him a ring-side seat for the radio broadcast of the legendary Muhammad Ali vs George Chuvalo boxing match at Maple Leaf Gardens in 1966. Jim was promoted to Duty Manager of Radio and Television later on in 1966 and retired from the CBC in 1985.
Jim had a keen interest in photography and aviation. His many trips abroad with the CBC via the R.C.A.F. allowed him to create an amazing portfolio of Canadian military aircraft pictures from the golden age of aviation.
Visitation for Family and Friends will take place at the Holy Cross Cemetery Funeral Home in Thornhill, from 6 pm to 8 pm on Weds. June 22 and from 11am to 1:00 pm on Thurs. June 23, followed by a funeral Mass at Holy Cross Cemetery Catholic Church at 1:30pm. At approx. 2:45 pm, Jim will be laid to rest with his beloved wife Jeni and son Jeffrey at Holy Cross Cemetery in Thornhill, Ontario, followed by a reception at Uplands Golf & Ski Club also in Thornhill.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to one of Jim’s favourite charities would be appreciated: The Scott Mission, The Heart & Stroke Foundation; The Markham Stouffville Hospital Foundation, or any Ukrainian Relief charity of your choice.
Streaming
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Jim Nihda 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Thornhill, Province: Ontario