Obituary of Ross Edward Leslie

Ross Edward Leslie

October 23, 1959 – March 13, 2018

It is with great sadness that the family of Ross Edward Leslie announces his sudden passing on Tuesday March 13, 2018.  Ross is predeceased by his loving parents, Cameron and Manny (Madeleine) Leslie and leaves his wife Cathy, daughter Lauren, brother Trevor (Elizabeth), sister Sharon (Scott), sister-in-law Karen, brother-in-law John (Terri) nephews Paul, Harry, Christopher, niece Kendra, in-laws Cliff and Betty, many cousins and a world of friends.

Ross was a wonderful man whose heart stretched from the city streets of Toronto to the Laurentian lakes and the cliffs of Newfoundland.

Ross was a Montrealer born and bred who lived and worked in the film and television industry in both Ontario and Newfoundland. After over 10 years in theatre, as an actor and tour manager he focused his talents in the film and television industry.  He was widely respected as a Line Producer/Production Manager on shows such as Republic of Doyle, Anne of Green Gables, Frontier, Caught, Little Dog and most recently, Star Trek Discovery. In this role he was a quick thinker with a broad view yet so good at in depth analysis.  He always worked with the lens of kindness balanced perfectly with bluntness. But this does not capture him.

Ross was a foodie, a quilter, a theatre buff, a master martini maker, a hiker, a photographer, a historian, an actor and a golfer.  He collected friends like he collected art. Ross became friends with people immediately.  He did it by inviting them over for martinis and dinner, on a hike, or simply for a coffee.  If you were to name a few of his attributes, you’d say wise, kind, thoughtful, trustworthy, romantic, hilarious, but loyal and generous would top the list. He supported everyone in big ways and small. He gave often and with grace and ease. 

Ross worked hard but also knew how to live well.  He was the guy who was given the best tables in the best restaurants and sat so that he was perfectly framed, by a window or door. He was the man who had impeccable taste in impossibly pointed shoes. He was the person who every bloody year replaced the art in his rental home in St. John’s with favourite pieces from his collection of local Newfoundland artists.  He hiked with a bottle of wine, ‘truffled’ cheese and real china in his backpack. He even has a sealskin coat named “The Ross” after him.

He wasn’t just a member of the Dunany Community, he was fully engaged as a leader.  Like his mother, Manny, before him, he loved being Club Captain of the Dunany Country Club for many years.  Like his father, Cam, before him, Ross was president of the same course.  He was also a warden of St. Paul’s Church. 

Most importantly, Ross was a family man, well raised by his parents who held family values high.  He spent idyllic childhood summers with them his brother, Trevor and sister, Sharon at their family cottage in Dunany. Dunany is the place that holds his heart.

Cathy and Lauren were the stars in his life.

When he talked about his daughter Lauren it was with such tremendous pride that people would get teary. Ross was many things to many people, but his biggest and most important role was as a father to Lauren. He was the quintessential ‘fun’ Dad. He loved to take her on ‘big explores’ in the woods at the cottage, loved to walk her around on the Dunany golf course before the age of 5 and demonstrated how to ‘host’ a multitude of parties. If Lauren had to choose which parent to go shopping with it, it would not be practical, thrifty Mom but extravagant Dad. He instilled in her his love for the theatre and the arts. She attended an arts school and has followed in her father’s footsteps in the film world and regularly sought his sage advice.

And when he spoke of his wife Cathy, it was with a “get a load of how good I got it” smile.  (He was right to do so, she’s the original kick-ass feminist) Married for almost 28 years, they loved to hike the trails of Newfoundland, cycle in Toronto, and enjoyed spending time at their cottage kayaking, swimming, golfing, and hosting dinner parties with family and friends. With Cathy retiring from teaching this June they were making plans to build a new home on the lake.

As one of his friends quipped, Ross was unique and stood out in a business filled with individuality.

Ross made an enormous difference in the lives he touched. That is the gift he had.

“He was a man, take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again.”  Hamlet

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 pm. and 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 22nd.  A funeral service will be held in ST. SIMEON’S ANGLICAN CHURCH, 445 Rue Principal, Lachute, Quebec at 11 o’clock on Thursday, March 29^th. 

If desired, in lieu of flowers please feel free to donate to the following charities that Ross held dear:

In Toronto, it’s The Actor’s Fund of Canada (afchelps.ca); in Quebec, it’s St. Paul’s Church, 1176 Dunany Road, Lachute, Quebec, J8H3W8 and in Newfoundland, Perchance Theatre at Cupids www.perchancetheatre.com.  Condolences, photographs and memories may be forwarded through www.humphreymilesnewbigging.com.