Obituary of George Putnam

George Edward Putnam (January 12, 1937 - April 30, 2009) George Putnam, loving and beloved husband, father, son-in-law, grandfather and friend, died on April 30, 2009 after a tragic accident, while vacationing in Cuba with Margaret, his devoted wife of almost 44 years. George is survived by Margaret as well as his adoring children Andrea Long (nee Putnam) and Ian Putnam; his father-in-law Herbert Brookhouse; his son-in-law Bradley Long and daughter-in-law Betsy Putnam; his grandchildren Megan and Victoria Long and Henry and Charlie Putnam; and countless friends and others whose lives he touched with his larger-than-life personality and open heart. He is missed terribly already. George was born in Peterborough, Ontario and received his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Queen's University in 1960. Although he spent the majority of his working life as a businessman, he wore his iron ring proudly and identified himself as an engineer to the end. George married Margaret in 1965, and they and their children lived variously in Montreal, Sarnia, Toronto and Calgary as George rose as an executive in the oil and gas business. George retired in 1994 as the Senior Vice President, Canadian Oil and Gas, of Canadian Occidental Petroleum Limited. George and Margaret lived the last twelve years in Ajijic, Mexico, a place that he would and did tell anyone who would listen was the closest a man could come to paradise on earth. During that time he and Margaret, his life partner and best friend, travelled the world but stopped often in Canada to visit their grandchildren and children, with whom he was exceptionally close and of whom he was extremely proud. Family and friends whose hearts and dinner tables are quieter without his booming voice, quick wit and deep laugh take comfort in knowing that his fifteen years of retirement were the happiest of his life: in heaven, George is sitting on his veranda in Ajijic at dusk, gin martini in hand, watching the sun set over his bougainvillea hedge and Lake Chapala beyond. A celebration of George's life will take place on Monday, May 11, 2009 at 2:00p.m. at Humphrey Funeral Home at 1403 Bayview Avenue in Toronto. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada and the Canadian Cancer Society.