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AboutAda

About Ada


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AdaRip -- GuestBook -- AdaNews.2007-06-08 -- AboutAda -:AdaM(ap)

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Eira (Ada) Podolski (nee Myllykangas)

Peacefully on December 16, 2006 at the Credit Valley Hospital at the age of 54. Beloved daughter of Martti and the late Rauha Myllykangas. Ada is survived by her two sons, Brendon (Nadia) and Andrew and former husband Marcel. Dear sister to Mauri (Sue) Myllykangas, Marija Poulin, Hely (Ken Keen), Leena (Bernie Philip) and Elia (Mike Kelley). She will be sadly missed by her many nieces, and nephews, colleagues and friends. Friends will be received at the NEWEDUK FUNERAL HOME – “MISSISSAUGA CHAPEL” 1981 Dundas St. W. (1 block east of Erin Mills Pkwy) from 10 to 11am Tuesday December 19, 2006.

A Celebration of Life will be held in the Chapel at 11am. A private family interment will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to a Cancer charity of choice.


Ada's career spanned "motherhood" and her two primary jobs ...

In addition to her role as a mother, focused on her sons Brendan and Andrew, Ada’s career spanned her two primary jobs …

AdaLikedTravel

As much as she loved her sons and worked diligently as the bread-winner to ensure their well being; Ada also enjoyed the opportunities for travel that were a part of her career. Inevitably, she would have to balance these interests in furious flurries of activity preparing for, and cleaning up after, each of her trips.

Ada loved to travel.

It was her chance to get away once in a while from the “super-mom” obligations of being …

  • A major innovator in the North American Real Estate industry, with a standing invitation to the RIS Power Brokers DinnerGala.
  • The very best “You lift me up” (Ada: “Second banana”) business partner anyone could ever wish for.
    • Everyone that met Ada, knows she never let herself be the center of attention. Perhaps that is why the most frequent response from visitors to these pages is “We had no idea, what Ada accomplished in her career!”. Hopefully, some more of the Ada character will become apparent as these pages accumulate and collect the information about … “WhoWasAda?”
  • The main provider for her family of two boys, Brendan and Andrew.

The trips were very special to her, not just because of a restful change of pace, but also because they were opportunities to visit with the many business friends that Ada naturally bonded with. They were also a chance for her to see some nice places, and she always enjoyed later recognizing scenes on television or in pictures.

After the memory damage that resulted from brain surgery in 1997, travel became even more important since she was able to re-link her memories by using the faces of her friends, their voices, and the places she travelled to, as ‘keys’ to re-‘join’ her thoughts. Travelling by car also gave her the chance to listen to FavoriteMusicAda, which she so enjoyed and this became yet another dimension along which she could link memories.

This is one of the motivations for presenting her favorite pictures, integrating them into maps, and eventually adding music. Here is a (very small) step towards telling Ada’s stories and striving to make her last DataFix request a reality, by doing just that.

Seasons Greetings from Hans & Ada @ DataFix
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One of the last things Ada did was ‘approve’ the image that she wanted used in the (hansMark; - as Ada referred to it, assuming Hall.Mark would forgive this as “fairUse”) Greeting card she asked me to send out to our Friends and Clients, as well as out many business Associates and Acquaintances. Her close friend brierS, at Ada’s Celebration smiled when reminded of the time Ada ‘forced’ a group of them to pick a character out of one of her two favorite books, “Atlas Shrugged” that they thought they were most like. Ada’s second favorite book was the Celestine Prophesy. I smiled at the memories that where conjured up, when one of the Symbols that played a major role in the Celebration was the “evergreen sprig”. Is it any wonder that one of her roles as DataFix’s CFO was strategic planning? And one of mine was Ada’s “recording secretary and reminder”. As time permits, I will add the other memories that were triggered like …

P.S. Here are some snapshots from Ada’s December, 2006 “farewell” tour to Calgary and Vancouver, and a few of her FavoritePlaces …

http://static.flickr.com/109/291624763_7e40fd62c0_t.jpg http://static.flickr.com/99/294446669_9f1f1974b1_t.jpg http://static.flickr.com/102/292672190_3824f2bfa8_t.jpg http://static.flickr.com/34/64053503_917814214f_s.jpg http://static.flickr.com/34/64052276_41c1081ebe_s.jpg

P.P.S. Inevitably, throughout the early months of 2007, many business meetings took place in which memories of Ada were shared. The pleasures of doing these “rememberances” will be continue to be captured in the emerging set of AdaTales; illustrated with many of the pictures that she enjoyed and collected and would use to illustrate the “tales” she told her many business friends.

Related pages ...
AdaFamilies, …, AdaQus, …{…}:Related pages

Ada Testamonials

These pages have taken on a life of their own. The first page was nothing more than an attempt to send Christmas cards to a friend or two. Since this is one of those periods when even the minutes of a life matter, I decided to post a card within one of the wikis that we have been evaluating for the past years as part of our SRED work.

It was a real shock to find that other people started contributing, without even being asked to, in spite of our familiarity with wikis and the certain knowledge that this was exactly the way the are supposed to be used. It guess it was a shock because most techies go through their lives trying to influence people to actually use the “neat” things they build. We’ve been more fortunate than most, since obviously DataFix has not just survived, but it has become a recognized “brand” for the small set of Clients and Customers we are privileged to serve.

So, mostly, the shock came from working in the context of sending out the Ada and Hans Christmas cards, in a way that would certainly have evoked …

Ada’s signature question

Ada: “Why?

After all, Ada steadfastly refused to use anything other email and always made the least possible use of basics such as Word and Excel. She was always a people person, and when she claimed to be “techie”, most of just just smiled and nodded (which was safer that trying to argue with Ada). Furthermore, Ada was an enthusiastic memebr of the DataFix Auntie’s club, in which AuntAda and AuntRuth were very prominant indeed, usually in the roll of ‘cheerleaders’. And one of their favorite chants was “There goes Hans, playing with his wiki again”.

In spite of all the years of experience as a Special Projects manager, as a respected Director of R&D Labs, and as a CEO, I could just never get them to take my “wikis” seriously.

– Hwo (acting in the capacity of an Author, rather than as just as an Editor of these pages)



AboutAdaByDnc

Like everyone else, Nadine and I were saddened at the news of Ada’s passing. She went out of her way to help me and Nadine get acquainted with the downtown core when we first arrived at Datafix 7 years ago. I also enjoyed talking with her at the Datafix retreats and listening to her perspective on how they had changed over the years. At one retreat in particular I had brought up martial arts in conversation and mentioned that I had been training in Karate for a number of years. She surprised me by sharing a similar interest in martial arts and I remember coming away from the conversation feeling that this woman “meant business” in more ways than one. On a personal note I felt a unique connection with Ada since we had both suffered brain trauma at some point in our lives, me with having a brain hemorrhage back in ‘91. She was a reminder to me that a person can accomplish much and continue to be a source of inspiration in spite of such obstacles. On a final note I’d like to say that one of the last things Ada spoke to me about at the office was a simple request to put in a new jug at the water cooler although she had phrased it: Can I get a strong handsome young man to help me with the water cooler?” Thanks for brightening the day for me Ada.

I will always remember you.


ForAdaByTomYarmon

Dear Hans,

I was saddened and shocked to receive the news about Ada. Although I did not see her much in the last year or so, over the years I grew to appreciate her quite, solid outlook on live. Please pass my condolences on to her family, colleagues and especially to you. It must leave a gaping emptiness in many lives.

Tom Yarmon.

Tom:

Thank you very much for taking the time to send your condolences message.

You are right that Ada’s passing leaves “a gaping emptiness in many lives”. In fact, many people are only now beginning to appreciate how strong a force Ada was, since Ada was never one to be in the limelight. I will certainly pass on your condolences to her family. In fact, the information I am collecting via the “wiki” web site, will be merged with the Picture album I am creating and will finally be produced as a “book” in both the traditional paper media and as a DVD that also includes some of her favorite music, hopefully before the anniversary of her death. In this way, we hope to provide each of her many Nephews and Nieces with a better appreciation of how special their “Aunt” Ada was and how much she cared for them too.

I really had no idea that Ada’s passing would create such a “project” and I was quite very surprised when our technical friends recognized the AboutAda pages as the second instance of what is now being documented as a WikiMemorial. Given this recognition, it only seems fitting to honor Ada’s last request to “finish what we’ve started”. I believe this book will definitely be a part of that.

Thank you, again. – Hans


[Bh:FoarAdaByJamieP ForAdaByJamieP?]

Dear Hans,

I am very sorry to hear of your loss.

She was a pretty cool lady wasn’t she? [I only got that sense, having met her but once].

And as you may recall, we met through the peripatetic Dr. Roz Biles and but for his unusual dynamism, I’d not have had the pleasure of meeting you or her.

And when did we all finally meet? Might have been late 2001 or early 2002 when at comScore.

She was indeed interesting and my thoughts go to you on the loss of your colleague.

Please add my name to those who feel her absence and I wish you the very best for this upcoming year. And please stay in touch.

Jamie


ForAdaByPatT.

vicK phoned me today with the news about Ada. I was devastated! Ada was one of the nicest, most sincere people I have ever known. She was also full of a sense of fun and was so loyal to all of her friends. Ada’s bravery in the face of all her challenges has provided me with an example of courage to handle many issues in my own life.

Hans, my thoughts and my prayers are with you and her family on the loss of such a great person.


ForAdaByDavidM

Ada loved to drive. On occasions she would pick me up at the airport and we would drive to the downtown. She prided herself in knowing every short cut and back road into the core.

Afterward, Ada mentioned on many occasions how much she missed driving. Initially, she would not accept that driving was impractical and impossbile for her. As she accepted her plight you could see the sadness in her eyes and feel it in her heart that something so important to her and something she, and we all, take so much for granted, would be missing from her life forever.

My first meetings with Ada were to discuss the project. Often the meeting would go on for a couple of hours and I would describe the requirements and changes. Of course Ada would need to know why this and why that. I found it odd that Ada seldom took notes. We’d be finished the meeting, and she would have a mostly blank piece of paper. But she understood what was needed, and the work always got done. The difference between the before and after Ada were shocking.

I know the last ten years have not been Ada’s best years. I hope she soon finds happiness and peace.

God bless

David


ForAdaByDarrylM.RIS

… my heart goes out to you and Ada’s family and friends. I regret that I won’t be able to make the funeral today but would certainly put Ada’s announcement/release in our press to advise the real estate world here in the states of her passing.

/.


AboutAdaByGdr

Ada was a rock, a touchstone. In a world where everything is happening at once, Ada was the calm and reasoned voice of consideration, an oasis.

During my time with DataFix, I think that I represented a special case as far as Ada was concerned. Many of my projects were “off the wall”, in that they were often either visionary or lunatic, depending on the time of day. Ada was wise to the world of techno-testosterone. She would never challenge whatever was be proposed, but somehow, over the course of a conversation, I would always end up re-thinking what was beginning to sound like a flakey project. When I asked for time to reconsider what was being proposed, she was always calm and gracious. That skill of hers was what I consider to be the best example of management that I have ever seen. That skill saved me untold aggravation, grief and embarrassment. Thank you Ada!

Having been traveling in Asia, for the last few years, my friends in Toronto have become all the more cherished. Amongst them, Ada was special; she was one of the few people who expressed a genuine and sincere interest in where I’d been and what I’d seen. She always offered a series of questions that often made me pause and carefully think about my answers. Her questions were never the small talk that passes so often for conversation. She will be sorely missed.


AboutAdaByRst

Another brief note and others are posted at the ‘neweduk.com’ funeral home site.

Condolences Re: Ada Podolski [Eira (Ada) Podolski (nee Myllykangas)]

Condolences to Ada's Family

I knew Ada for more than ten years as both a colleague and a friend. She was good to work with and pleasant to spend time with socially. She was very kind, gentle and helpful to me personally. When I would visit her office, she always made me feel welcome. As busy as she might be, she would take time to make me feel at home. She was admirable in many other ways as well.

We had many pleasant times at lunch or dinner with business associates and friends. We would often speak only of business, but any onlooker would surely describe us all as friends first.

My heart goes out to Ada’s family at this difficult time. Members of my own family passed away just this past year. It was, and still is, shocking and sorrowful in a profound way. It leaves behind a void that can not really be filled. I found that sympathy and good wishes were a surprising comfort to me. It is with that in mind that I write this note. I hope my sympathy and good wishes will give some small comfort to Ada’s family and close friends.

People in our circle of friends were quite fond of Ada. Any of us would be glad to offer what aid we can. Her family should know that help is just a wish away. They need only ask.

Ada’s passing is a great loss and I can’t help but think it was before her time. She had much more to give. Despite the loss, her effect will remain. Professionally, She left behind a nice body of finished work. Personally, she leaves friends such as myself with many good memories. I am sure she will continue to live on through her work and in the hearts and minds of her friends and family.

I will miss our friend Ada, but I am glad for the time we had. Still, it is a sad farewell.

I offer my most sincere and deepest sympathy for Ada’s family and close friends.

– Bob Trower (Rst)

— Below is the note that I wrote while Ada was still with us.

I guess I have known Ada for more than a decade from looking at Hans’ timeline. I knew her before and after her initial illness. As many people do, she changed dramatically due to her illness. I admired the ‘before Ada’. She was an excellent achiever and good to work with. I spent more time with the ‘after Ada’ and I was very fond of her personally. She became astonishingly kind, gentle and accommodating. When I would visit DataFix, she always made me feel welcome. She became admirable on many different levels.

We had more than a few delightful outings for lunch or dinner as a small group. We would often speak only of business. However, any onlooker would surely describe us as friends.

To the extent that a programmer has a heart, mine goes out to Ada and her loved ones. I have seen my share of sadness in the past few years and I found it a comfort that others offered their best wishes. I offer mine and I hope this gives some small comfort now.

The following is a little crass or at least blunt. Feel free to remove it if you find it offends: Not everyone deserves our praise. Ada was one that did. I hope that Ada knows that she is loved and admired. Come what may of this difficult time, her activities personally and professionally will have a lasting impact. She has more than paid her dues. If she must lay down her tools, she leaves behind a nice body of finished work. I would not say that for everyone, as those who know me will attest. However, I will say it for her. She has done well and very much deserves our prayers.

– Rst


forAdaByErrolS

This is terribly sad news. Simply heartbreaking. There are so many things I could say about Ada – that she was gifted, generous, warm, irreverent, and inspirational – but right now no words seem sufficient.

Unfortunately I will be unable to make it to Toronto tomorrow to attend the funeral, but my heart and my thoughts will be with you and with Ada’s family.

I kept a bit of an archive from the old RLP / InfoHome 2000 days and have some great photos of Ada and the project, which I will share with you.

With much sadness, Errol

My heart is breaking today and there are many, many people in Vancouver who feel the same way as me. I mentioned the sad news to a number of people, including David Fisher who works here in the building (you met him at one of the RIS dinners recently) and like me they were saddened and shocked. I’ve also received phone calls from old friends / acquaintances such as Brian Ellis who had heard the news and weren’t sure whether I had also heard.

InfoHome byErrols

InfoHome 2000 was the result of an innovative project to redesign residential real estate database systems (aka MLSs) from the ground up. Key goals of the project included: (a) creating a user interface which was friendly and intuitive; (b) providing direct consumer access to real estate information (before the WWW); and (c) providing rich, deep data.

The software was initially launched in Ottawa in 1992 and was installed in 18 Royal LePage offices. The system downloaded the full MLS database from the Ottawa MLS and augmented this information with multiple color photos and maps (as part of this project, every home in Ottawa was photographed creating a visual database of the entire city). Royal LePage also created a retail store where consumers could use touch-screen kiosks to independently search for properties. The store also featured a large video-wall which combined graphics animation and real-time photos of properties for sale.

Plans to deploy the software nationwide were stalled as the real estate market experienced a downturn in Central Canada. The developers of the software, MPR Teltech (based in a Vancouver suburb) rebranded InfoHome 2000 as “T-III” and offered it for sale to brokers and MLSs throughout North America. The first U.S. purchaser of the software was Sibcy Cline REALTORS, a large regional broker in Cincinnati. The first MLS to install the software was the Maui Board of REALTORS in Hawaii. By 1995 the software had been selected for use by MRIS, the largest MLS in the world (serving the Baltimore-Washington Metro area). The T-III business was purchased by GTE Corp in 1997. While part of the GTE family, the software was rebranded as “System 4” and was deployed at a number of MLSs including sites at Tampa FL, Orlando FL, and Los Angeles CA. GTE sold the business to Interealty of Vienna, VA. in 1999. The Vancouver software development team went on to create MLXChange which is currently in use throughout the U.S. and Canada. Interealty and the MLXChange Software was sold to First American in late 2005.

– Errol Samuelson


AdaByIanB

Back at the begining of the modern age of Real Estate - Ada had a vision for a multi-media real estate system. The outcome of that vision is well described in Errol’s page, so I won’t repeat it. What does need to be acknowledged is that Ada’s vision catalyzed the transition from a paper catalogue based process to a modern IT base and it remains as on of the foundations upon which the latest Internet Realty systems are based. I had the priviledge of knowing Ada during this highly creative period and she was impressive.

Business has a reputation of being a cold and uncaring environment. Such was not the case where Ada was involved. I knew and worked with Ada over a decade and she stands as a beacon of warmth and caring. Throughout her personal challenges, her approach to dealing with others did not waiver.

One ocassion that stands out in my memory was when she and Hans came to the NAR immediately following her return to work after her surgery. She was still struggling with her speech and tired easily. We sat together on the booth, mostly in silence, watching the latest version of her vision dancing on the huge projection screen. I think it gave her a sense that her life - like her product - would get better.


StalkingAda

My heart goes out to … her beloved boys.

.

Ada was a very good friend to me both before Brain Susrgery & after. I feel privileged to have known both Adas. Ada & I could always find the humour in things even if they were serious and have a laugh & a joke about them. My favourite memory was Ada’s first foray away from DataFix on her own to go to Shoppers Drug Mart. She told me she was fine and was able to go out alone. I lasted 10 minutes and then had to go and check on her. I followed her up and down the aisles trying to be discreet, watched her manage the check out procedure and leave the store. But I couldn’t let her cross King St on her own…my problem not hers!

.

She asked me where I came from….I could not tell a lie so admitted to following her. Typical Ada, she laughed at me and then told me in no uncertain terms to not follow her again. She had no idea how hard that was for me but not as hard as it was for her to go out on her own. I know how much courage & determination she had to find her way around and it didn’t stop there she might not have been able to absorb the written word as well as she once did but she didn’t forget what you told her. We got so good at discussing things that I could fill in the blanks in most conversations, ours was a great partnership & friendship that I cherish & miss.

.

I am heartbroken by this news. If you are able, please kiss her goodbye for me.

If you need anything Hans I’m here for you.

– JulietS


Editorial comment …

Ada has told this story many times, and like most good ones that are worth repeating, it got a little better each time she refined it. One noticable discrepancy between the version as told by Ada and Juliet’s preceding tale, is the omission of this vignette …

  • Ada notices Juliet while still in Shopper’s and challenges her with: “What are you doing here?”
  • Juliet (quickly reaching for the nearest box on a shelf): “Just picking up a few things I need from this shelf.”
  • Ada: “Condoms?!”

Now, if this is disputed, we’ll either have to get the store’s security camera tapes or get a ruling from Ada’s favorite panel of judges who hold court on BiagiosPatio.

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AboutAda Guest Book

AdaRip -- GuestBook -- AdaNews.2007-06-08 -- AboutAda -:AdaM(ap)

Please add your name or initials to the top of the list. (wiki users may wish to supress their usual camelCase to reduce wantedPages entries.) Use this …


  • Alister Campbell…
  • Tom Yarmon
  • Rob Mass.
  • Andrew Mc Clenaghan
  • Liz M.
  • bayle shanks
  • patT
  • Helmut Leitner
  • RCS
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  • kathleen, nammu
  • brierS
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  • D. & N.
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  • mark dilley

  • A Heart-felt “Thank you, Helmut” for recognizing this site as the second Wm:WikiMemorial.
    • Ada is indeed honoured to be recognized as part of this pattern, which really should become a Template or Pragma.

  • kevinB
  • davidM
  • marciaH
  • julietS
  • greg, PB-PL
  • ianB
  • darryl, RIS
  • errolS
  • lionKimbro
  • John & Joan D
  • rAlchemy
  • wHarker
  • angelaT
  • mikeWright
  • BrendanP & Nadia
  • Gdr
  • Rst
  • drw
  • hansWobbe
 /.

/.


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