WILLIAM ROBERT JAMES MCGILLIVRAY

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WILLIAM ROBERT JAMES McGILLIVRAY November 24, 1928 - August 19, 2002 Peacefully on Monday, August 19, 2002, surrounded by his loving family, Bill McGillivray of Winnipeg, passed away at the Concordia Hospital after a brief and courageous struggle with cancer. Bill is survived by his beloved wife of 46 years, Joanne; and three children, Richard, Tamara and husband Cameron, and Greg, wife Kara and son Tyler. He is also survived by his mother-in-law Mary Collins; brother and sister-in-law Roger and Florence Collins. Born in Vancouver, Bill became a permanent resident of Winipeg at a young age. He attended Knowles School, an orphanage for boys, where he was known for his athletic abilities and spry sense of humour. Bill was actively involved in speed skating, hockey and football. He won the Manitoba Senior Mens Championship in speed skating in 1952. Also known as "Bill the Frogman", he was a passionate self-taught scuba diver, one of the first in Manitoba. He dove professionally, and as a hobby assisted the R.C.M.P. with a number of commercial underwater operations. Bill spent a lifetime career with Manitoba Hydro where he was an Electrical Engineering Technical Assistant. He independently studied engineering at university while working and raising his family, and retired in 1986, after a successful career of 41 years. Bills interests also involved the community where he became a Mason and a lifetime member of Prince Rupert Lodge No. 1. He was an active hockey coach, where he was involved with Tier Hockey and was known for his progressive new age coaching style. Always with a keen and curious mind, Bill never tired of learning and reading whether it was history, new words, languages or designing and building. His love of the outdoors inspired Bill to design and build their summer home at Belair on Lake Winnipeg, where he tirelessly worked for 10 years. He loved to spend his retirement years whiling away the hours at their beautiful hide-away home in the great outdoors. Bills greatest passion was his family life and raising his three children. He was lovingly proud of the latest addition to the family, his new grandson - Tyler. He always inspired his children with his integrity, humour and passion for learning. We love you Dad. Bill will be sadly missed by his family and friends. "A song is no song till you sing it. A bell is no bell till you ring it; And love in your heart wasnt put there to stay. Love isnt love till you give it away." Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, August 23 at St. Matthews Anglican Church, 641 St. Matthews Ave., with Rev. George Belcher presiding. Interment at Glen Eden Cemetery, 4477 Main St. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Parkinsons Foundation of Manitoba. Arrangements entrusted to: GLEN EDEN FUNERAL HOME 4477 MAIN STREET 338-7111

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 21, 2002