Obituary of Ronald MacFeeters

Ronald MacFeeters After a wonderful life lived Ron MacFeeters died on Sunday, December 7, 2014 of complications from a fall on November 19, two days before his 100th birthday. He died on the eighth anniversary of the death of his wife Diana. He will be remembered for his wit, his memory, his love of learning and his maxims, including his greeting that he was "all the better for seeing you". Left to mourn his passing, celebrate his life and take enduring pride and inspiration from his legacy are daughters Laura (Duncan Sinclair) of Whitehorse, and Sheila (Michael Williams) of Toronto and Orillia and sister-in-law Elizabeth Hamilton. He was beloved Gramps to Lindsay, Caitlin and Brooke Sinclair and Robert and Andrew Williams and Uncle Ronald to Linton Scott (Cynthia) and two younger generations of the Scott and Donaldson families. Ron lived his 100 years within two miles of St. Clair and Yonge and was fond of reminiscing about the changes he saw. He attended Brown School, Oakwood Collegiate, Pickering College, North Toronto Collegiate and Victoria College U of T class of 1936. He was the oldest surviving alumnus of several schools. In his youth he spent happy summers at Camp Wanapitei in Temagami and Ahmek in Algonquin Park. During WWII he joined the army Signal Corp and earned the rank of Lieutenant. A physical exam during embarkation leave in New York identified limited vision resulting in a return to Ottawa where he spent the rest of the war as a Signal Master at NDHQ. After the war Ron worked with his father to perfect a recipe for Honey Butter which he manufactured at MacFeeters Creamery on Jarvis Street until 1971 when he sold the business and devoted more time to examining the stock market where he saw the Dow Jones grow from under 300 to heights of over 17,000. Ron met Diana Hamilton at an RCYC dance and they were married in 1951. They had over 55 years together until her death in 2006. For the last two of those years he visited her every day for dinner when she had to live in long-term care following a stroke. Ron was passionate about giving back to his community. He was an active volunteer, most notably as a member of the Kiwanis Club of Toronto for nearly 70 years, a member of the board of the Royal Ontario Museum and a member of Deer Park United Church. In retirement he and Diana were active travellers taking trips to all continents except Antarctica, primarily with ROM Travel. After Diana's stroke he became a major supporter of medical research at UHN and PMH. As a centennial project in 1967 Ron and Diana bought an abandoned 200-acre property in Mono Township and restored it to an envied woodlot. This farm served as a weekend retreat for over 40 years with summer breaks for time at the cottage at Go Home Bay. Caregiver Sandra Rhodes ensured he was able to spend weekends at Timbertop and visit the Rosemont General Store on Saturday mornings right until his fall. These weekends brought him enduring joy. In Toronto caregivers Clea, Joanah and others at Premier enabled him to live independently at The Dunfield and enjoy frequent excursions around town. Keeping in touch was always important to Ron. He enjoyed outings and visits and long telephone conversations. In remembrance he would wish you to call or visit a friend. The family will receive friends in the REGENCY BALLROOM of THE GRANITE CLUB, 2350 Bayview Avenue, Toronto on Monday, December 15 from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Condolences and memories may be forwarded through www.humphreymilesnewbigging.com.