LEON, Henry - Henry Leon died at his home on the morning of Thursday September 24, 2020, at the age of 92. He had been in ill health for about 18 months.
Born on November 19, 1927 in London, England, Henry lived with his parents, Percy and Lilly (nee Saunders) Leon until he was evacuated to Somerset in the early months of the war. Returning to London he finished his schooling, graduating from the University of London in 1949 with a degree in Civil Engineering.
Henry immigrated to Canada shortly after graduation, working initially in Toronto for Abitibi Paper. On being transferred to Smooth Rock Falls, a friend strongly advised him to buy a good winter coat. From there he was posted to Fort William for Abitibi, where he and his MG and a friend started a sports car club.
After several rather routine projects Henry decided to leave (the incompatibility of the Northwest Ontario winter and the MG might have been a factor). On leaving Abitibi, he returned to Toronto and proceeded to take a number of short term positions, the last with Teperman, before joining Hatch in their Hatch-Atkins phase. At Hatch he made a career in Process Engineering, transitioning from Civil. He was involved in the caster projects at Sidbec, particularly on the Voest Alpine slab caster, one of the first successes for that supplier.
He was part of the 1987-88 study and report for the World Bank on the Nigerian Steel industry. Additionally, he became involved with the Buffalo office in a range of financial capability and oversight studies of steel companies for financial houses and banks.
Following the Hatch move from St Clair Ave (some 400 yds from his apartment) to Mississauga he elected to retire. After a 40 plus year career of traveling the world on engineering jobs, Henry settled down to his beloved St. Claire and Yonge neighbourhood. He spent his retirement years with his friends, playing and watching tennis at the Cottingham Tennis Club, listening to classical music, reading the Economist, Barron’s, and the Wall Street Journal, and at his all-consuming second vocation building financial models of the markets.
Henry will be greatly missed by friends and family.
Funeral arrangements are to be handled by his family. Due to current circumstances there will be no visitation. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to a favoured charity.
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