Andrew William Cymbala

It is with great sadness the family of Andrew William Cymbala announces his passing on September 2, 2021 after a courageous battle with cancer.  He was 70 years old.

He was born in Edmonton to Irene and Joseph Cymbala and raised in Whitecourt, which he still thought of as home.  He moved to Edmonton in 1964 and attended Rosslyn Junior High and Queen Elizabeth Composite High Schools.  Shortly after high school, Andy met and married Anne Gallagher.  It was love at first sight which carried on for over 50 years.  They had three beautiful, passionate, caring, and loving daughters; Heather (Edward) Duiker, Jennifer (Errol) Huszar, and Angela (Brad Irwin) Cymbala. Andy leaves behind sister Linda, brother Patrick, and sister Holly; ten grandchildren; and two great-grandsons. He also leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and other extended family.  He wanted to especially thank Tim and Marilyn Schoepp and Dave and Linda Bosch for being such great friends over the years. Also, Larry Hayman, who left us much too young, who became his mentor and hunting partner when he was a rookie.

Andy worked briefly for Silverwood Dairies and three years for Canada Packers before joining the Edmonton Fire Department in 1974 where he attained the rank of District Chief.  He retired in 2006.  He was an avid sports fan and participant.  He won a high school football championship, an Edmonton fastball title, and many curling titles.  Andy was the President of the Alberta Fire Fighters Curling Association and Vice President of the Canadian Fire Fighters Curling Association where he tirelessly promoted the game, travelling from town to town successfully growing the participation within the Fire Service. He was a staunch Oilers fan. With his brother Pat, they invented and patented Advantage Wallsystem.  He stayed involved in the business until 2009 when he fully retired and took his four grandchildren on a month-long holiday to all the theme parks in California and a couple days in Vegas.  He considered it one of the best times of his life even though they had 30 continuous days of above 100-degree heat. 

Andy thoroughly enjoyed his time on the Fire Department working with some of the best men and women you could ever meet.  He was proud to meet and befriend Fire Fighters from across Canada.  He always said there was a special bond among firefighters no matter where they were from.  He even wrote and published a book in his later years that is on Amazon, “The Foster Kid” by Will Andrews.  Any proceeds from the sale of his book will go to the Edmonton Fire Fighters Burn Treatment Centre and Edmonton Fire Fighters Memorial.  He will truly be missed by so many who knew him.  Cremation has taken place and no service will be held.

If friends so desire, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Edmonton Fire Fighters Burn Treatment Centre or the Edmonton Fire Fighters Memorial.

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