Aaron was born on July 8, 1975 in Port Alberni, BC and grew up in a loving and supportive home with his parents, Vern and Alice and big sister, Melissa.  As a young boy, Aaron enjoyed playing softball, playing video games and going on camping trips with his family and friends.

Aaron’s childhood sports idol was major league pitcher, Nolan Ryan, and as a teen his wardrobe appeared to have been purchased solely from the Texas Ranger’s team store. Later in life his sport interest switched to hockey and the Detroit Red Wings which was also evident in his choice of clothing. You could always pick Aaron out in a crowd... he would be the one in red, wearing something with the Detroit Red Wings logo, his email address was even dreadthered!

Aaron became a collector at a young age starting with comic books, hockey and baseball cards and later turned to vintage Mustangs. All were maintained in meticulous condition.

After graduating from high school in 1993, Aaron followed in his parent’s footsteps and started working for Safeway in Port Alberni. Eventually he moved to the Lower Mainland in 1998 and went to work for Summit Logistics starting in the warehouse and after a brief time got the job he really wanted... truck driving which made him a hero in his nephew’s eye.

The “F-bomb” was indeed the main staple of Aaron’s vocabulary regardless of who was in his presence.  Those closest to Aaron knew what a caring and compassionate person he really was under that tough guy persona.  You just needed to look past his cynical attitude and somewhat flippant outlook on life to see that he was always there when it mattered most.

To say Aaron did not like germs was a huge understatement. His dad likes to share the story of how Aaron loved his Grandma O’s perogies until he learned her special “trick” of licking her fingers to get the edges to stick together.  It was shortly thereafter that Aaron learned how to make his own!

He was also a man of routine, from the time he woke up until he went to bed – he enjoyed a limited food group and always ate at the same time of day, just like his granddad Dick – so much so we affectionately referred to him as “little Dick”.  Never late for an appointment, and always dependable when a friend was in need were his true trademarks. Aaron was a very passionate animal lover – and would do anything for an animal.  He had many pets and to him they were his furry children.

He was a loyal, consistent and caring son, brother, uncle, cousin and friend. His jovial laugh, his incredibly warm smile and his striking green eyes will remain as our greatest memory of Aaron.

Aaron was predeceased by his grandparents, Steve, Anne, Richard and Eva. He is survived by his parents Vern and Alice (Salim), his sister, Melissa (Rich), his nephews, Matthew and Sam, step-brother and sister, Omar and Safiya, his aunts and uncles, Adrienne (Dennis), Valerie (Mike), Adele (Kevin), Debbie (David), John (Marilyn), Pat (Glenn), Kees (Sue), his cousins Lori, Mark, Erin, Aiden, Murray (Kathy), Walter, Tammy (Doug), Rick (Allison), his closest friends Kelly, Laura and Susan, and of course, his beloved Rottweiler, Lucifer.

A gathering of family and friends, in commemoration of Aaron, will be at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, June 15, 2010 at the Arbutus Club, 2001 Nanton Avenue, Vancouver, BC in the Strathcona Room.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the BCSPCA (www.spca.bc.ca/support/donate, Tribute Gifts) or to The Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre of British Columbia (www.crisiscentre.bc.ca/donate) in memory of Aaron Ogrodnick.

Kearney Funeral Services entrusted with the arrangements.