Ted Szilva: A legend as big as the Big Nickel

Few people have left such an indelible legacy on Greater Sudbury as Ted Szilva, the creator of the Big Nickel, who passed away Wednesday at age 81.

The monument that was erected in 1964 quickly became known around the world and made Sudbury something that it hadn't been before: a tourist destination.

Jim Szilva, Ted's son, said Thursday the reaction to the news has been “overwhelming.”

"Both through social media and people personally reaching out, the reaction has been overwhelming,” Jim said. “There's a lot love for Ted in this city — and all across Canada, as a matter of fact."

While a beloved monument today, the elder Szilva had to overcome a number of obstacles to make the Big Nickel a reality. That tale became the focus of The Big Nickel: The Untold Story, a book father and son put together in 2014, to mark the monument's 50th birthday.

"When it started, it was all about the idea of what it could be and what it could represent,” Jim said. “And I think that's why he fought so hard to make it happen, even though so many people told him no.”

But his father had a vision and the tenacity to make it a reality, his son said. And he had a vision of expanding the site to include a mining science centre.

“(And) that ended up becoming Science North and Dynamic Earth,” he said. “So he definitely knew that it was going to be an important thing for Sudbury. He knew that bringing in a tourist attraction, that it was going to generate spinoff business through restaurants and hotels. He was a pretty amazing fellow."

Growing up, Jim said people recognizing his father and wanting to talk about the Big Nickel became an almost daily routine.

"We pretty much couldn't go anywhere, whether it be Tim Hortons or Sears or wherever, without someone saying, 'Hey Ted! How you doing?'” he said. “He was very passionate about this community. He loved Sudbury and he was passionate about helping people.

"I just think about how, not even 12 hours after his passing, how many people have called, just to show their support."

Father and son first talked about writing the book in the 1980s, as Ted constantly received calls from students and others who wanted to know the history of the Big Nickel.

"I said to him, 'you get a lot of those calls, don't you?' I said we should write a book and tell the story and that way, if anybody ever wants to know how it began, they'll have a definitive source to go to,” he said. “We had talked about it years ago when I was in college studying journalism. That's when the idea originally came up."

As the 50th anniversary approached, Jim told his dad that it was time for the two of them to make the book a reality. While he was always close with his father, writing The Big Nickel: The Untold Story brought them even closer.

"Being able to write that book together, and put that together as a project over two years ... He was always my best friend and were able to get that much closer. He was a man of faith, and he loved his family. He not only loved his community, he loved the people in the community and wanted to help them."

His father battled several health issues in recent years, Jim said, including leukemia, heart disease and diabetes. But his health took a serious turn for the worst last May after he suffered a serious fall. He had been in hospital or the nursing home for much of the last 10 months.

"It was a very, very difficult year," Jim said. "After he fell back in May, he ended up in a delirium at that point lost some cognitive ability.”

Ted caught a cold last week that, in his weakened condition, couldn't fight off.

"Basically, his body had shut down,” he said. "I think the cold did him in.”

Several politicians and officials in the city paid tribute to Ted on Thursday. You can see those tributes here.

Visitation for family and friends will take place Sunday at Jackson and Barnard Funeral Home from 2-5 p.m. and again from 7-9 p.m. Szilva's funeral will be held Monday at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick's Church on Walford Road in Sudbury.

More information the book The Big Nickel: The Untold Story can be found here.