1932 – 2015
It is with gratitude for his life and sorrow at his passing, that the family of William Brien Pattison, announce his death on September 4.
Bill was predeceased by his parents J.W. (Jack) and Kathryn Tonkin Pattison. He is survived by his loving wife Marilyn (nee Smith), his son Brien and his daughter Sarah, as well as his granddaughter Julia Hodgkinson. He is also survived by his children’s mother, Wendy Roberts, and by the extended Smith family.
Bill was raised in Vancouver, attended Vancouver College and was a graduate of Cornell and Harvard universities. Bill bought his first hotel in Lewiston, Idaho, for a dollar down and sold it two years later for the same amount. The profit was ‘in the learning’. In 1962 along with four partners Bill founded Delta Hotels Ltd and remained president until the sale of the company in 1988. In those twenty six years Delta grew from one hotel in Richmond, B.C. to a national chain with hotels in seven provinces and Florida.
From 1988 until recently Bill provided consulting services to the hotel industry and associated real estate investment companies through Pattison Information Inc. In 1999 Bill and Marilyn moved from Toronto to Victoria where Bill headed the Hotel Programme in the Faculty of Business at the University of Victoria as a volunteer Adjunct Professor, and then acted as a special advisor to the President of Royal Roads University.
In addition to serving on a number of corporate boards, Bill valued his community responsibilities as a volunteer. He served as chair of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada and was the first Canadian Co-chair of the Canada Japan Business Association (Tourism sector). Bill was chair of the Board of Governors of Ryerson Polytechnic and later joined the board of Guelph University. He was also on the board of Women’s College Hospital in Toronto. Until recently he was on the boards of the B.C. Paraplegic Foundation and the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra.
Bill was a hotelier, an entrepreneur, a volunteer and throughout his life a mentor and educator. In a tribute on his 75th birthday, a leader in the industry wrote that Bill’s true legacy was the number of people he helped develop and support through the various stages of their professional careers who now have leadership roles in international hotel companies.
Bill’s achievements speak to his strength and commitment. His family will remember creative landscaping at Galiano and Lake of Bays, picnics on ‘The Brieny’, fishing at Pennask, and travels around the world. He will be missed.
A funeral service will be held at Christ Church Cathedral, on Quadra St. at Rockland, in Victoria on Friday, September 11, 2015 at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Victoria Hospitals Foundation would be appreciated.
McCall Bros. Funeral Home
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Jeety Bhalla
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Jane & Juggy Pallan Dear Marilyn: Although I had hoped to make it to Victoria for Bill’s service, circumstances prevented it. I thought of you all afternoon, however, wishing you the comfort of the Holy Spirit and of your many friends. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to you–you will miss him in so many ways. He will be missed by many folks, to be sure. I look forward to connecting with you again whenever you are able to come this way. Sending love and blessings your way!
Jane & Juggy
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Roger LaRade Dear Marilyn, my sincere condolences on the death of your husband. With fond memories of our service on the Board of the Downtown Churchworkers’ Association in Toronto. Roger
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Elaine Friesen Carter Dear Marilyn
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Although I only met Bill once…at your wedding… I know he was a community maker who contributed much to making our world a better place to be…and the very special man in your life. I know that you will very much miss his love and companionship. Although we have not communicated often since our early days,I want you to know that I think of you often, fondly, and would love to be in touch.
Blessings and love to you! Elaine
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Sarah Strother & John Legg Dear Marilyn,
I have such fond memories of Mr. Pattison from Ontario days when I was a teenager. Many family dinners with lots of good discussion and laughter, and a memorable weekend at Lake of Bays with my friend Happy. I also remember seeing him unexpectedly in Cranbrook when he was consulting with a local resort and I was visiting the local newspaper. We had a great visit and “talked business” for the first time.
He was always interested, wise and kind.
We are thinking of you and send our love.
Sarah Strother & John Legg
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Pat & Ken Perry Pat & I were very saddened indeed to learn of Bill’s passing Marilyn. I enjoyed working with him, talking with him including the odd disagreement of course. He had a wonderful career and you obviously shared very many, fond memories. We both enjoyed his company socially, his sense of humour was much appreciated and his depth of knowledge on so wide a spectrum was impressive.
Our thoughts are with you and the family at this difficult time.
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Leadership Victoria / Al Kemp From the Board, volunteers and staff of Leadership Victoria. And my personal condolences, Marilyn. We enjoyed working together with the United Way and Leadership Victoria.
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Da vid and Sandra Anderson Marilyn
Ours hearts go out to you. We really enjoyed Bill’s company. He was thoughtful, funny and wise.
We are so sorry that we cannot be at the Cathedral on Friday. We will be thinking of you.
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Bernice Cherney Bill and Marilyn have been part of my Victoria family for the past 11 years. His quick wit and wicked sense of humour will be missed. He was a true gentleman.
His memory will live on in our “family’s” get togethers where he will be toasted often amid stories and experiences lovingly shared.
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Richard Skinner Dear Marilyn and Family,
Please accept my sympathy from afar at the passing of Bill. Among the treasures of our time on Vancouver Island one of the dearest is our too-infrequent time spent with you and Bill. The conversation was always fascinating, the gossip (yes, we gossiped) titillating, and the food and wine superb. I prefer to think that Bill has taken leave of us to prepare a sumptuous dinner with fine wine in some lovely spot where Bill will, of course, grumble about politicians and innkeepers, and Marilyn will reign over us all with grace.
Peace be with Bill and you.
Rick Skinner
Washington DC
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Mavis Begg Dear Marilyn: please accept my sincere sympathy on Bill’s death. I know it has been a long difficult time for you, but hope with the support of friends and family you will find comfort. Yours truly, Mavis Begg
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Russ Lazaruk & Hilary Groos Marilyn & Family,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. Please accept our heartfelt condolences on Bill’s passing.
Russ & Hilary
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Monte McMurchy Dear Merilyn,
On behalf my brothers and sisters [Elgin, Kevin, Trevor, Vivianne, Blair,Andrea] please accept these words as our expression of sorrow you must be experiencing. The memories of the moments shared at Lake of Bays remain firmly etched as I recall the good times in animated conversation and social gatherings shared between you and your husband and my mother and father. Cherish the memories you two shared and experienced as I am confident in that the two of you enjoyed collectively a life most excellent.
I remain sincerely,
Monte
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Don and Olive Davidson He was a great man with an excellent track record in business and in charity work and we had many fun memories of time spent with Bill and Marilyn. We hope that Marilyn can find a way to be with her Lake of Bays friends after the time of mourning is over so we can share reminisences of she and Bill’s time there.
We are sorry that we can’t be there for the funeral.
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Leslee Farrell Dear Marilyn, I am very sorry for your loss, I did not know Bill well but his obituary says it all, he was clearly very special. If there is anything I can do for you, please do not hesitate to call.
Yours in St. John, Leslee
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William Pallett Bill, a true Canadian hotel visionary, built a hotel brand that enabled many Canadians to realize their professional dreams! He will be remembered always.
Dear Marilyn,
I am sorry to hear of your husband’s passing. I know the past year has been trying on you. Although I did not have the opportunity to meet him, your husband’s accomplishments as well as his tributes point to his deep connections with the people he encountered.
My sincere condolences to you and your family.
Jeety Bhalla