June 23, 1939 – Mar 22, 2021
With immense sorrow we announce the death of our beloved Ted, husband, father and grandfather, at the age of 81, victim of a tragic accident sustained while out running the evening of January 12/21. He survived 10 weeks in hospital but succumbed to multiple traumatic injuries and other underlying causes.
Ted’s journey began (born Sansei, 3rd generation Japanese Canadian) in Ucluelet, B.C., son of Takeo Itani (commercial fisherman), and Sumako Oye. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Ted’s family was forcibly removed from their home, taking only the possessions they could carry. They were confined in primitive stables in Hastings Park, Vancouver, until months later when they were moved and incarcerated in a camp in East Lillooet on the Fraser River, 1942. Having lost their civil rights – though all were Canadian citizens – they remained in B.C.’s interior until after the end of the war. By then, their confiscated possessions had been sold off.
Ted’s later childhood was spent in Westbank, BC. As a young man, he began a 37-year career with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). He served with NATO in Europe on 3 separate assignments and held command, staff and instructional posts in Canada and abroad. He graduated from the Canadian Army Staff College, NATO Defense College in Rome, International Institute of Humanitarian Law, San Remo, Italy. He pursued language studies in French, Russian, Japanese, Arabic, Spanish, Italian, and German. Recently, he attended the Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative at Dalhousie. Ted served as Commanding Officer of the 1st Airborne Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery, of the Canadian Airborne Regiment (Edmonton 1972-74). UN missions included long periods in the Horn of Africa, Pakistan, Iran/Iraq, the former Yugoslavia. He held various jobs as Faculty Member, Peacekeeper and UN Monitor. He was awarded the Order of Military Merit in 1991, and in 2015 was appointed to the Order of Canada.
Ted made an early decision to commit himself to justice, peace and gender equality. He overcame adversity and prejudice, and with wisdom and humour, worked selflessly to help others. He had enormous inner strength, and no fear of making tough decisions. After retirement from the CAF (1994), he began a 26-year career in humanitarian aid work with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent Societies, and Canadian Red Cross (CRC). For 17 years, he took on various roles with the Pearson Peacekeeping Centre, helping to design and deliver training courses conducted around the world. In 1995 he supported efforts to negotiate a mine-ban convention, which came to fruition in the 1997 Ottawa Treaty. He worked for the ICRC until 2004, including a 2 ½-year mission in Central Asia, based in Tashkent, his territory covering Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan and Turkmenistan. In Geneva, he worked on the Missing People Project, and as advisor on International Humanitarian Law and diplomacy. With the Canadian Red Cross, he led responses to natural disasters including Sri Lanka and Indonesia following the 2004 tsunami; 2005-06 earthquake relief in Pakistan; Operations Coordinator with Pakistan Red Crescent Society in Baluchistan (2008 earthquake); and Pakistan during the 2010 floods. He worked for the US State Department Global Peace Operations Initiative as Subject Matter Expert and threw his energy into his work, whether it was classroom or field. He left his mark in many places, including Haiti, Bangladesh, Nepal, the Philippines, Indonesia, Mongolia. In his last years he was a committed Red Cross mentor and Volunteer. To quote a colleague: “He was dignified, respectful of people and honourable.”
Ted and Frances eloped in Montreal in 1967 and moved about Canada and the world together, including 3 years in Heidelberg, Germany, while working and raising Russell and Sam. Ted is deeply mourned by his loving wife of 53 years, Frances Susan Itani in Ottawa ON. He was a steady and gentle guiding presence for his children and grandchildren: son, Russell James Satoshi Itani (Aileen), and granddaughter Frances Michiko Itani, Copenhagen, DK; and daughter, Samantha Leiko Itani (Paul), and granddaughters Campbell Itani Smith and Tate Itani Smith, Lindsay, ON. Ted is survived by sister, Nancy Teruko Minato (Dick), and brother, Bing Tsuyoshi Itani (predeceased by Carol). Siblings who predeceased him: Tom Taketoshi Itani (Beryl), Linda Teruyo Terai (Isao), Anne Terumi Murata (Kazuya), and Violet Toyoko Itani. Ted is loved and respected by cousins, nieces and nephews, and mourned by colleagues and friends around the world. He was a lifetime runner and completed many marathons, including the original route in Greece, and the Boston Marathon. He will be missed by his running partners, and by his fishing buddies in PEI.
Ted’s wishes were to be cremated. When it is safe to do so, a Memorial Gathering will be held for Family, Friends and Colleagues at Beechwood, Funeral, Cemetery and Cremation Services, 280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa, ON. Please visit www.beechwoodottawa.ca for further details to be announced.
In lieu of flowers, a donation could be made in Ted’s name to the Canadian Red Cross, International Disaster Relief Fund (redcross.ca/donate; or by calling 1-800-418-1111; or by cheque indicating ‘IDRF’ to National Processing Centre, P.O. Box 39, Saint John, NB. E2L 3X3.
Digital Guestbook
M.Asar Ul Haq
Charlotte Gray
What an outstanding man. And what a traumatic loss for his family, especially Frances. Ted's death is beyond tragic; he and Frances were such an extraordinary team and so supportive of each other. Each helped the other shine. My deepest condolences.
Dilshad Macklem
The world shifted on its axis when I heard the news Ted died. He was such a fine person. His love for his family shone brightly, always, and he had enough love and kindness that it extended to everyone who came into his orbit. He was the last person outside my bubble to give me a hug before Covid hit—I cherish the memory of that hug now. Frances, Sam, Russell—everyone who knew Ted couldn’t help but love him. We all share your grief. I count myself lucky to have known him.
Joseph and Annette Culligan
Dear Frances and family,
Sincere condolences. Ted was a model for all of us. He will be missed, Stand Easy Ted.
Ron Ballentine and Christina Cole
Ted has been a valued member of our Ottawa circle of friends for many years. and every time we visit Ottawa we have thoroughly enjoyed his quiet eloquence and perceptive insights - we will miss that greatly.
Please accept our heartfelt condolences.
Christina and Ron
Renee Liss-Siraco
Frances: My deepest condolences on the loss of your beloved husband Ted. You have both distinguished yourselves in your respective fields but never more so than in your raising your children while moving across Canada and over the globe. You have my profound respect also for having been your husband's life partner and biggest fan (and he yours) for 53 years. May he rest in peace knowing that his legacy is in safe and loving hands. Renée Liss-Siraco
Suzanne Cowan
Sam
I am so sorry to hear about your loss! My thoughts are with you and your family
BGen (Ret) Charles Emond
Dear Frances,
It was a shock to have read the unlikely circumstances that took Ted from you, especially considering the risks he willingly and selflessly exposed himself to for so many noble causes.
While we only worked together as members of the Directing staff (photo posted) at Junior Officer Staff School, (and were neighbours a year later in Gagetown) Ted was always on my mind whenever I went out for a run or wore army boots! During our time together in Toronto, Ted persuaded a number of his buddies, not without difficulty, to enter a 10 mile race, something none of us had done before, nor thought of doing, such was Ted’s power of persuasion. Ted set up a noon-hour practice session for the month leading up to the race. Before long our feet and joints ached from the regular pounding, though Ted, who always ran in army boots, seemed immune. Our noon hour practices never allowed us to run the full 10 miles before the race, so it was a revelation to us just how challenging the second half of the race would be. Ted, rather than leave us in his dust, herded us with words of encouragement to the finish line, in what turned out to be respectable times, leaving me with a lasting sense of achievement long after the joint pain had subsided. Ted’s infectious smile still keeps me company on my runs.
Please accept our deepest condolences,
Charlie and Lucie Emond
P. Gail Harrod
Fran and family,
My condolences on your loss.
Gail Harrod. (friend of Joyce and David Stothers.)
Koreen E. Fahey Graydon
My deepest condolences to the Itani family. It was a privilege to call Ted my friend, and a friend to my son Thomas, a wise and insightful former coworker and my commuting buddy. We always picked up where we left off whenever we met...Authentic conversations and a hug, always modeling equity and always a story about the grandkids. I am blessed to have known you and I will truly miss you. XO Koreen and Thomas
I had the honor of working with him and as young professional he not only inspired me and our team but motivated us to keep going even in the most difficult of times. He was an institution in himself always kind and sharing life experiences, for us to learn from. You will always be remembered for inspiring people around you and contributing to the thousands of vulnerable communities in the aftermath of the EQ 2005 and 2008 in Pakistan.