Obituary of William Alexander Farlinger

WILLIAM ALEXANDER FARLINGER Loved and surrounded by his family and friends, Bill Farlinger died peacefully on November 28, 2005. Bill�s extraordinarily full life has left a profound and positive impact on family, friends and the Canadian business community. He is survived by his loving wife, best friend and soul mate Esther who will miss him more than words can express. He will be cherished always by his children Brian, Pamela, Craig, Leonard, David and stepson Philip and adored grandchildren Stephanie, Jessica, Mallary, Brian, Gabriel, Grayson, Madison, Alexander, Ella, Adam, Jacob, Tod, Alexandra and Kevin. He is survived by his loving sister Sally and the King family nieces and nephews who will hold him in their hearts always. Equally bereft are their spouses Richard, Sylvia, Willie, Jennifer, Lisa and many, many friends. Bill Farlinger graduated from the University of Toronto in Commerce and Finance in 1951. He joined Clarkson Gordon and Co. Chartered Accountants and served the firm in a variety of roles in Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto. During his term as Senior Partner of the firm in 1986, the firm merged with Ernst and Young and he continued to serve as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer until 1993. Following his retirement in 1993 from Ernst and Young, he served the people of Ontario as Chairman of Ontario Hydro and, its successor company, Ontario Power Generation until 2003. Bill�s significant philanthropic contributions for which he received the Order of Canada include: Chairman of the President Committee (University of Toronto); President of the Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA); President of the Toronto Redevelopment Advisory Council. Bill has received a number of honours, including: Order of Canada in 1995; ICAO Award of Outstanding Merit in 1995; University of Toronto, Faculty of Management�s Distinguished Business Alumni Award in 1988; an Induction into the University�s Sports Hall of Fame in 1991 and an Honourary Doctor of Laws Degree in 1992. Bill was an avid golfer, fisherman and sportsman. He loved life as he lived it. He is most fondly remembered by his family for making Par on the Country Club of Florida�s Golf Course, 3NT bids, fly fishing at Caughnawana and Sunday dinners. The family will receive friends at the HUMPHREY FUNERAL HOME - A.W. MILES CHAPEL, 1403 Bayview Avenue (south of Eglinton Avenue East), from 7-9 p.m. on Wednesday, November 30th and 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, December 1st. The funeral service will be held at two o�clock on Friday at TIMOTHY EATON MEMORIAL CHURCH, 230 St. Clair Avenue West. Donations may be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario, 1920 Yonge Street, 4th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M4S 3E2, #416-489-7100.