Obituary of Gordon Cheesbrough

Gordon Franklin Cheesbrough 1952-2010 Peacefully on Wednesday, June 23, 2010 at the Toronto General Hospital after a brief, valiant battle with a very rare and virulent form of lymphoma cancer. Adored by his wife, Kim, his children, Meghan, Gordon and Sarah, his stepdaughter, Molly, and the family dog, Barkley. He was a hero in their eyes and those of his numerous personal and professional friends. Gordon cared deeply for them all, always ready to lend support, often in inconspicuous ways. He leaves behind a closely knit and loving extended Johnston family, including his cherished Mother, Marjorie Sharpe, Uncle Chris Johnston and his wife, Vivian, Aunt Gladys Massey, and his cousins, Marjorie (nee Johnston) Crocker and Geoffrey, Stewart, Clifford and Sandy Johnston and Seana (nee Massey) Moorehead, Heather (nee Massey) Dawson and Arnold Massey. Predeceased by his loving step-father Alex Sharpe. His career in business was marked by singular achievements, including his appointment at age 38 as President and CEO of the investment firm, Scotia Mcleod and then Chairman and CEO of the successor organization, Scotia Capital Markets. His responsibilities in the latter position included supervision of all the global activities of the firm. In 1998, Gordon became President and CEO of Altamira Investment Services, one of Canada's largest independent mutual funds at the time where he oversaw the restructuring and eventual sale of the company to the National Bank of Canada. In 2002, Gordon realized a long held dream of co-founding his own investment company which is now a flourishing and highly regarded enterprise, Blair Franklin Capital Partners, with a complement of professionals that has grown from two to twenty-eight. The partners agree that a very large part of the success of the firm is owed to Gordon. He was Deputy Chairman of Alterra Capital Holdings, headquartered in Bermuda and Director of the Canadian National Stock Exchange (CNSX Markets Inc.). He was also on the Dean's Advisory Board of the University of Toronto. Gordon gave unstintingly of his time to charitable and non-profit organizations, only recently retiring from the Board of Governors of the North York General Hospital, after completing more than ten years of board contribution, the last five as Chair. Previously he was a member of the boards at Upper Canada College, Canadian Tire Corporation, and the Toronto Community Foundation. As an avid sportsman, Gordon enjoyed golf, and played tennis and squash at a high, competitive level when not deep sea fishing from his vacation home in Estero, Florida. He had a lifelong love of the Muskoka Lakes region in Ontario, having spent his summers during his youth at the Lake Muskoka cottage of his late grandparents, Dorice and Charles Johnston, before acquiring his own cottage on Lake Joseph, the site of many parties with family and friends, and perhaps his favourite place to be. His family and friends will be eternally grateful for all the enduring memories of such a fine, loving and accomplished man, and the example he set for living life to the fullest. The family will receive friends at the HUMPHREY FUNERAL HOME - A.W. MILES CHAPEL, 1403 Bayview Avenue (south of Davisville Avenue) from 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 27 and Monday, June 28. Funeral service will be held in TIMOTHY EATON MEMORIAL CHURCH, 230 St. Clair Avenue West on Tuesday, June 29 at 11:00 a.m. Private interment. A reception will be held in UPPER CANADA COLLEGE, 200 Lonsdale Road following the service. To honour his memory, the family has asked that donations be sent to the Gordon F. Cheesbrough Memorial Fund at North York General Hospital Foundation at www.nygh.on.ca/foundation or by calling (416) 756-6944. Condolences and memories may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com.