Obituary of Donald Angus

Donald Lloyd Angus, P. Eng. Died peacefully on February 12, 2011, at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Veterans Wing at the age of 93. He was very well cared for whilst there and we are grateful to the many staff who showed their deep compassion. In addition, our thanks go to Merle, Kathy, and Gabriel for acting as caregivers extraordinaire for the last two years. Don Angus was the beloved husband of Katherine (nee Gordon), his wife of fifty years, who predeceased him in 1992. After, he remarried in December 1995; enjoying more than 15 years with second wife, Noreen (Clark), who mourns his passing. Loving father of Wendy (Doug Scott) and Harry (Kathryn) and dear grandfather to Jennifer, Megan, Shaun, Paul, and Scott. His brother Gordon Leahy Angus pre-deceased him. In the last few years, he loved being around his great grandchildren: Tyler, Katie, Scott, and Charlie; all of whom exhausted him to his great delight. Don was a Toronto native, a graduate of: Brown Public School, Oakwood Collegiate, and University of Toronto, from which he graduated in Mechanical Engineering in 1942, thus joining his father and uncle in a grand profession. He immediately joined the RCEME and saw service in Europe from 1942 to 1946, rising to the rank of Captain. He did not talk much about the war, but he mentioned it was time of growing up, and in his last few years he wore his medals with pride. On leaving the army in 1946, he joined the family engineering firm of H.H. Angus & Associates Ltd., becoming president from 1955 to his (official) retirement in 1985. He expanded the role of the firm from regional to one which influenced or undertook design in many parts of Canada; and into new areas; including facility operations and software. He had an extraordinary ability to ask questions and to look at problems as opportunities. On retiring, he kept very active in the practice, acting in the role as counsel to many junior members as the firm continued to expand its horizons, in large part because of the solid foundation he had built. Don Angus was a leader in his community. He was President of the Professional Engineers of Ontario, the Granite Club, and Muskoka Lakes Golf & Country Club, and Board Chair of Queen Elizabeth Hospital (now Toronto Rehabilitation). He was on the Board of Canadian Cable systems, and transitioned to Rogers, upon their merger. He involved himself in many charities, taking particular interest in the Fred Victor Mission and the Salvation Army. He led by example and by force of personality. He was blunt, highly intelligent, incisive, and loved to debate. Family dinners ranged around a wide spectrum of topics. He was fiercely loyal and quite a humourist to his many friends. He never made a mistake, he often said, with a twinkle in his eye, despite occasional evidence to the contrary. He sought the best for his family, taking the time to act as coach or seeking out others with relevant expertise. He collected odd cars, owning a rare Alfa Romeo, and the spare racing car for the Comstock Racing team and at one time became a skilled seaplane pilot. He was one of the original investors in Le Provencal, the first high-class French restaurant in Toronto, started by Jacques Duceau. It was a rich investment in terms of experiences. For years, he was greeted by enthusiasm in many fine restaurants, by the distinguished alumnae of that investment. He became a skilled carpenter in later years, often astounding visitors with an ability to turn out "antiques". His love of golf never left him and he shot his age three times, all in his 80s. He is, however, still searching for his first "hole-in-one". He had many friends, many of whom have passed before him, others who remain to mourn his passing. We will all miss him. The family will receive friends at the HUMPHREY FUNERAL HOME - A.W. MILES CHAPEL, 1403 Bayview Avenue (south of Davisville Avenue) from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 15. A service celebrating his life will be held in YORKMINSTER PARK BAPTIST CHURCH, 1585 Yonge St., Toronto at 2 o'clock on Wednesday. If desired, memorial donations may be made to the Salvation Army Canada, 2 Overlea Blvd., Toronto, ON, M4H 1P4 or the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, Veterans Wing or the Odette Cancer Centre, 2075 Bayview, Ave., Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5 or Yorkminster Park Baptist Church would be appreciated.