Turning loss into leadership

When southern Alberta philanthropist and energy industry leader Randy Maksymowich speaks about women’s cardiovascular health, he does so not as an abstract advocate for change, but as a husband, a witness to tragedy and one of thousands of Canadians whose lives have been irreversibly altered by heart disease.

Since the sudden loss of his wife Bonnie, Randy, a retired oil and gas executive, has become a committed champion for women’s cardiovascular research at the Libin Cardiovascular Institute (LCI) within the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine — transforming grief into action that will help save lives.

“Three-hundred-fifty-seven days ago, my best friend of 50 years, and wife of 43 years, Bonnie Maksymowich, died of a cardiac event, at the young age of 66,” Randy told an audience gathered in support of the Women’s Cardiovascular Health Initiative last winter.

Bonnie was the steady centre of family life for her loved ones.

“She was the glue that held our family together,” Randy shared. “The nurturer, the listening ear, the caring heart. Her instinct to reach out, recognize milestones, and care deeply for others extended far beyond her immediate family. Bonnie made everyone she interacted with, but mostly me, a better human being.”

Bonnie passed away at their rural home in the foothills of Alberta, unexpectedly and without warning. Randy found her on the floor and performed CPR and used the AED they had purchased for their home.

“The guilt of not being able to save my wife will forever walk with me,” Randy says.

Through reflection and learning, he has come to understand a larger truth: Bonnie’s death was not the result of anything he did or didn’t do – -but rather because of systemic gaps in research, awareness and care.

Despite having no identified pre-existing conditions, Bonnie had been categorized as “low risk.”

Heart disease is the leading cause of premature death among Canadian women, claiming one in five lives, five times more than from breast cancer. Yet many women are unaware of their personal risk. Women are frequently under-diagnosed and under-treated because symptoms can present differently, diagnostic tools were developed primarily on male bodies and decades of research have excluded women.

Randy, by contrast, carried a strong family history of cardiovascular disease and was deemed “high risk.” He received close medical attention and proactive care: the kind of focus that decades of research have prioritized in male cardiovascular health.

“We thought we were prepared,” Randy says. “But we were wrong because the focus was in the wrong place.” This revelation has become the catalyst for Randy’s commitment to women’s cardiovascular research at the LCI. He gives to the Libin Women’s Cardiovascular Health Initiative (WCHI). Led by Dr. Roopinder Sandhu, MD, it aims to close long-standing gaps in women’s cardiovascular health and ensure women receive more timely, precise and effective care.

“Randy’s gift honours Bonnie’s life in a way that will create lasting impact,” says Dr. Roopinder Sandhu, director of the WCHI. “His generosity is deeply meaningful and will help us advance research, education and clinical care focused on women’s cardiovascular health. We hope this support will help us answer important unanswered questions and deepens our understanding of women’s unique cardiovascular risks so we can identify and support more women earlier in their health journey and provide effective evidence-based treatment every step of the way.”

Randy’s support is advancing research that recognizes a fundamental truth: when it comes to heart health, women’s bodies are different than men’s—and women’s lives depend on knowing the difference.

“Had either Bonnie or I known the signs to look for in the months and weeks preceding her passing, maybe it would have changed the trajectory of events,” Randy says. “That is what the WCHI is all about.”

Earlier this year, Randy championed giving to the WCHI at a gathering hosted by fellow philanthropist, Darlene Switzer-Foster. Together, they raised more than $81,000 to advance the critical work of the WCHI.

Through his philanthropy, advocacy and fundraising leadership, Randy is helping ensure that women’s heart health is no longer overlooked. His commitment honours Bonnie’s life in the most meaningful way possible — by building a future where fewer husbands, families and communities experience such profound loss.