Dad passed away peacefully on January 10th from a stroke. Predeceased by wife, Laura and survived by son, Christopher. He was born in Leppington, Yorkshire England on June 19, 1920. Yes, he was a proud Yorkshire man. His ambition was to go to sea and that was what he did. He won a scholarship to a Nautical College, and then joined the British Merchant Navy as an officer apprentice. He went on to become a master of a tanker.
During the Second World War, Dad’s ship was torpedoed and he and his fellow crew members spent a month in a life boat in the Southern Atlantic. He was mentioned in dispatches for bravery.
In the early 1950s, he was offered a shore job by the Alcan group of companies in the then British Guiana which later became Guyana, South America, where the family lived for the next 17 years. He was the manager of the shipping side, responsible for wharfs, a ferry service, stevedores, river dredging etc. While in Guyana, he was made the honorary consul for Norway. He also advised the Government of Guyana on shipping matters. When he left Guyana, after being transferred to Montreal, he was made a Knight of Saint Olaf by the Government of Norway for service to the country. Dad was also presented with the Independence Medal by the Government of Guyana for his services to the country.
In Montreal, he became the Vice President of Saguenay Shipping, which was part of the Alcan group of companies. On his retirement, he loved to garden. Later on, he took up oil painting. He and mum would travel to England yearly to see the family.
Thank you to Dr Schlatter and nurses, Kelly Cox and Leslee on 6th South VGH who took care of Dad.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Heart and Stroke Foundation would be appreciated.
A memorial tea is being held for June 19th at Goward House between 2-4 p.m.
McCall’s Funeral Home
www.mccallbros.com
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cheryl warwick
Dear Chris,
I wish to offer you my condolences on the passing of your dear Dad. I remember our conversations when we worked together at Epicure. I knew you were a devoted son who cared deeply for your parents. My thoughts are with you. Sincerely, Cheryl Warwick