A funeral was held on Monday for a 39-year-old cancer researcher who was fatally stabbed in downtown Toronto last week.
Friends and family of Mark Ernsting gathered at the Church of the Redeemer on Bloor Street near Avenue Road to remember and celebrate his life.
“He was a quiet but very bright and very funny and affectionate man who never had a harsh word to say about a soul, and always had a laugh in his heart,” said Ron Leach, one of Ernsting’s friends.
Ernsting, who was a biomedical engineer with the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, was fatally wounded outside of a home on McGill Street, in the area of Yonge and Gerrard Streets, at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
Emergency crews were called to the scene, where they found a man in life-threatening condition. He was rushed to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The victim, who was also an adjunct professor at Ryerson University, was out for his usual evening walk when he was approached by a man and fatally stabbed, police say.
Investigators believe the stabbing was the result of a botched robbery.
"We are deeply saddened at the passing of Mark Ernsting -- a talented researcher and terrific person," the OICR posted on Twitter Wednesday. "Our thoughts are with his loved ones.”
Those who attended his funeral, say Ernsting will not be forgotten.
“He was the nicest, most caring, motivated, intelligent person and that’s not an exaggeration. He was the greatest,” said Ernsting’s brother-in-law, Brian Iseman.
With a report from CTV Toronto’s John Musselman
