Obituary of Gary Browne

GARY WESTREM BROWNE Gary Browne, 80, of Toronto, Ontario, passed away on Sunday, April 24, 2016 at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. Born in the midst of the Great Depression to Eric and Marion Browne, he was honed to be pragmatic, exceptionally resourceful and - long before it was popular - an environmentally conscious person. He led the Browne family and friends to plant hundreds of thousands of trees across Canada, many at a family property in Central Ontario. He leaves behind his fabulous wife and best friend of 53 years, Bernice Anne Browne (nee Hewko) from Mundare, Alberta, whom he swept off her feet in Edmonton as a dashing young petroleum engineer with Royal Dutch Shell, arriving from Houston, TX. Gary's athleticism and skill created an opportunity to be a tour member of the Professional Golf Association. He chose love over golf and together they embarked on a life-path that led Gary to get an MBA from Western University adding to his mining engineering B.Sc. from Queen's University. The Queen's University legacy of the Browne family includes both of Gary's parents, his brother Daryl, both sons and daughter-in-law, Joy, and one granddaughter, Emily, currently working on the eighth Browne family Queen's degree. Gary worked for several cutting-edge firms after graduating and settled on a near 30-year career with the Ontario Provincial Government, ultimately holding the title Director of Government Services, the highest non-political office. He fought exceptionally hard for Ontario's citizenry, passing on myriad opportunities to advance his career in exchange for the betterment of the province he cared about deeply. Gary was extremely proud of his two sons, Barry and Scott (Joy), both currently residing in Barrie, Ontario. He is also survived by his three brothers: Derek, Bevis (Christine) and Daryl (Laura) and his sister Patti (David), as well as his four granddaughters: Claire, Emily, Katie and Amy. The family will receive friends at the HUMPHREY FUNERAL HOME A.W. MILES - NEWBIGGING CHAPEL, 1403 Bayview Avenue (south of Davisville Avenue) on Thursday, April 28, 2016 from 7:00 until 9:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider a donation to Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, or alternatively, the planting of a tree on Gary's behalf. Condolences and memories may be forwarded through www.humphreymilesnewbigging.com.