Obituary of E. Gordon Hachborn

E. GORDON HACHBORN

July 11, 1930 - November 2, 2017

Edward Gordon Hachborn, beloved of his wife, Pamela Thomson, his sons Eric & Greg Sigurdson, his brother Robert, nephew Ted, Lise Lareau his wife, Daniel and Madeleine his “Greats,” cousin Hester Hachborn Baird (deceased), Deb and David and many other cousins, passed peacefully at home in the arms of Pamela.

Gordon was a judge of the Ontario Court of Justice from 1982 to 1999, and was highly respected as exceedingly patient, wise and kind. He gained some notoriety when he tried the “Lap Dancing Case,” a ruling which made it legal in Ontario (upheld for the most part by the Supreme Court of Canada), and with the high-profile case of ad executive Kirby Inwood who he found guilty of assaulting his “Russian Bride” (defended on the floor of the courtroom by Eddie Greenspan).

Admired by judges and lawyers for his superior judging and bartending skills, he will be missed by his many friends in Rosedale, at The Bradgate Arms and throughout Toronto where he spent his whole life.

Gordon, despite a difficult and Depression-era childhood, grew to be the epitome of kindness, patience, gentleness and wisdom. His superior swimming ability won him many accolades, both competitively and in water polo. He and his teammates, known as “Dick’s Boys,” watched every Grey Cup together from the mid 1940’s until 2010.

Gordon read thousands of books on all topics and of every genre. He loved the law and did his best to “do Justice” as a lawyer with the Attorney General of Ontario’s office, as a judge in the Criminal Division of the Ontario Court, and as a teacher with the Federation of Law Societies.

Gord never stopped learning. His boundless curiosity encompassed everything from art to pathology. He blossomed with humour and generosity at age 59 when he married Pamela, and opened his heart and his home to her sons.

The brightest lights of his life since retirement have been his grandchildren Arjun Eric and Jaya Kaur Sigurdson. They were his greatest joy.

The family will receive friends at the HUMPHREY FUNERAL HOME A.W. MILES – NEWBIGGING CHAPEL, 1403 Bayview Avenue (south of Davisville Avenue) from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 15th.  A Celebration of Life will be held in the CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER, 162 Bloor Street West, 2:00 p.m., Friday, November 17th.  Private interment.

Donations may be made to the Fred Victor Shelter, the Salvation Army or the Scott Mission directly or through Canada Helps, https://www.canadahelps.org/en.  No flowers please.  Condolences, photographs and memories may be forwarded through www.humphreymilesnewbigging.com.