FREDERICK GEORGE CLIFFE BRAITHWAITE

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FREDERICK GEORGE CLIFFE BRAITHWAITE Fred was born in Spy Hill, SK on May 18, 1925. He received his education in Homewood and Brandon, MB, where he played juvenile hockey. He admired the goalie, Turk Broda, of the Toronto Maple Leafs and trained himself (like Broda) to be ambidextrous in goal and in other activities. He played in the Brandon Pipe Band. A graduate in Electrical Engineering (1946) from the University of Saskatchewan, he lectured there before leaving to become an employee of Husky Oil in Lloydminster. Later, he joined Reed, Crowther and McKay of Calgary in the design of refrigeration and HVAC systems. Retiring early for health reasons, he settled in Vancouver where he worked in the dock-yards and as a first-aid attendant for the St. Johns Ambulance Society. Fred passed away at Mount St. Josephs Hospital in Vancouver, on Easter Sunday, April 11, 2004. He was predeceased by his parents John Wesley and Constance Agnes Braithwaite (nee Cliffe) by his sister, D. Jean Rutherford and by one nephew, T. Patrick Legg. He is survived by sisters, Joyce Chalmers of Halifax and Irene Legg of Winnipeg; nieces and nephews, Shelagh Marchenski, Nancy Rutherford, James, Robert and Kerry Legg of Winnipeg, Patricia and Richard Chalmers of Halifax and Wendy Chalmers of Montreal. He has many great-nephews, nieces and cousins in Canada, Great Britain, South Africa and Australia. Fred read widely and had many interests. An admirer of the wit and worldly wisdom of Benjamin Franklin, he aimed to work for the common good. He was a tireless advocate for water fluoridation and a champion of all anti-smoking efforts. Attending to the mechanical and body repair of his automobile was both a hobby and a frustration. He belonged to a TOPS group (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) as part of his health regime. For recreation, he was an early student of bridge technique and was a Gold Medallist in ballroom dancing. In later life, ballroom and square dancing group activity continued to play an important role. The family is particularly grateful to Olga Torie for her care and for her continued friendship. A celebration of Freds life will be held in Vancouver. His ashes will be placed in the family plot in Winnipeg later in the spring. Donations in his memory can be made to the Salvation Army or to the charity of your choice.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 17, 2004