Vancouver philanthropist Mel Zajac died May 28 at St. Paul’s Hospital. He was 98.

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The popularity of Zajac, and his philanthropy, could be seen two nights later, when 400 people went to the Terminal City Club for the annual Zajac Nights fundraiser.

The event raises money for the Zajac Ranch for Children, where about 400 kids with medical disabilities attend summer camp at a beautiful property on the shores of Stave Lake in Mission.

This coming weekend, swimmers from around the world will compete at an event Zajac sponsored, the Mel Zajac Jr. International Swim Meet, at the UBC Aquatic Centre.

It was named after Zajac’s son, a swimmer who has on Canada’s team in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal.

Mel Jr. drowned on July 13, 1986, when he was caught in a tidal pool while kayaking on the Chilliwack River. Eight months later, another son, Marty, was killed in an avalanche near Blue River in the Cariboo.

In their memory, Mel Sr. started the Mel Jr. and Marty Zajac Foundation in 1987, which became the focus of his philanthropy. It sponsors the swim meet and the ranch.

Melvin Nicholas Zajac was born on May 15, 1928, in Winnipeg. His parents were immigrants from Ukraine, and Mel didn’t learn English until he went to school because the family spoke Ukrainian at home.

His father died when Mel was 6, and the family of eight struggled through the Great Depression. This was key to his empathy for others and to his philanthropy.

“He grew up poor, didn’t have the opportunity to go to summer camp,” said his daughter Carmen. “It was really important for him to ensure that all children got the opportunity to experience summer camp. That’s why he decided to support kids with medical conditions, because typically they can’t go to a regular camp.”

Zajac moved to Vancouver in 1949, and flourished in the construction business. He started off building houses before switching to small apartment blocks. In 1958, he built one of the first highrises in the West End.

“That was on Barclay Street,” he said in 2023. “It was eight storeys, only a 42-suiter, a highrise in those days. It’s still there.”

His most high-profile project was the Pacific Palisades block on Alberni, where he partnered with North American Life.

“It was the first (residential highrise) built in the downtown area,” he said. “People said, ‘You won’t be able to rent it, you’re too close to downtown.’”

In 1972, he had to sell his share after he lost $20 million on some bad investments. But he stayed on as manager of the hotel in the Pacific Palisades for years, and lived in the penthouse, so many people thought he still owned it.

He had two sons and three daughters with his first wife Irene. When his sons died he focused on his philanthropy.

He is survived by his second wife Wendy, daughters Karen, Carmen and Corinne, and two grandchildren. A memorial will be held at Holy Rosary Cathedral in Vancouver on June 10.

“He was just a lovely man, and a generous man,” said planning and real-estate consultant Michael Geller, who attended the Zajac Nights event.

“For many of us, as we get older, think about what our legacy will be. He knew for a long time that he’d be leaving a fabulous legacy.”

jmackie@postmedia.com