MacKENZIE, William - Passed away peacefully in Belmont House, Toronto, on October 22, 2017.
Cherished husband of Pamela.
Beloved father of Louise (Randy Gilchrist) and Paul (Lori Loeb). Dear grandfather of Andrew and Alison Gilchrist. Willie was born in Newark, New Jersey on August 10, 1930, son of Scottish merchant sailor Simon MacKenzie and Mary Houston and grew up in Johnstone, Scotland.
He was educated at the University of Glasgow, Balliol College, Oxford and Cornell University. He married Pamela Richards in 1959.
Having worked for some years in the London branch of the Canada Life Assurance Company, he and his wife and family emigrated from England to Toronto in 1972, where he rose to become Vice-President of the Canada Life Investment Division in 1985.
After retiring ten years later, Willie took an active role as a Reader for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind and in the Churchill Society for the Advancement of Parliamentary Democracy, in which he served as Chairman from 1996 to 1998. Willie was a great fan of classical music, opera and ballet.
Funeral at St. Clement's Anglican Church, 70 St. Clements Avenue, Toronto on Monday, October 30th at 2:00 p.m.
Donations to the Alzheimer Society of Canada.