Obituary of David Beldam

BELDAM, MurrayThe family are saddened to report the passing of Murray Beldam on June 6th at the age of 98, after a valiant struggle with Alzheimer's disease. A quiet and unassuming man, Murray was born and raised in Scarborough Village. The adored and only child of Charlie and Edna Beldam. He grew up in a close family setting, surrounded by loving aunts and uncles at the corner of Markham Road and Eglinton Avenue in a large country home, surrounded by tall maples. Murray was an accomplished track and field athlete holding a cigar box full of medals for high hurdles while attending the University of Toronto and the Ontario Agricultural College, from which he graduated as a bacteriologist in 1934. He was a third-generation Torontonian and a proud Canadian. Murray served his country as a Sergeant in the Medical Corps performing cold climate research from 1939 to 1945 and retired in 1970 from the Food and Drug Division of the Federal government. He and Billie, his loving wife of 65 years, enjoyed an active retirement spending their winters in Florida and summers at their cottage in Muskoka. Murray and Billie enjoyed an exceptionally long life together, managing to live together in the family home up until a few weeks ago, when the Alzheimer's disease became a crushing burden to Billie and their wonderful nurse, Grace. How many couples manage to live together in their family home to their late 90's and are able to drive themselves for dinner together at local restaurants? Clearly, he had an enviable life. Murray is survived by Billie (Lillian Haywood of Toronto), his son David Blair, two grandchildren, Jo-Anne Gristina of Columbus, Georgia, and David Charles of Toronto and three great-grandchildren: Lily, Annabelle and this spring, little Max Gristina, all of Columbus, Georgia. A funeral service will be held in the chapel of HUMPHREY FUNERAL HOME - A. W. MILES CHAPEL, 1403 Bayview Avenue (south of Eglinton Avenue East) on Thursday, June 12th at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to UNICEF Canada, 2200 Yonge St., Suite 1100, Toronto, Ont, M4S 2C6 or the Canadian Cancer Society, 1639 Yonge St. Toronto, On. M4T 2W6. Condolences and memories may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com.