Obituary of Clifford Lloyd Crozier

CLIFFORD LLOYD CROZIER

Clifford Lloyd Crozier, 92, died Wednesday, September 19, 2018 at North York General Hospital in Toronto following a brief illness.

He leaves his wife of 68 years, Bonnie (nee Lindsay) Crozier; his son Patrick and his wife Gina; his daughter Mary; his son Steven and his partner Chris; and grandchildren Matthew and Andrew; and several nieces and nephews.

Born in Peterborough and raised in St. Thomas, Ontario, the son of John Perry and Alma (Thompson) Crozier and brother to the late Dr. Grant Crozier. He was a long-time resident of Toronto.

After graduating from St. Thomas Collegiate Institute in 1944, he continued his education at the University of Western Ontario, graduating in 1949 with a First Class Honour B.Sc Degree in  Mathematics and Physics.  The UWO graduation was followed by a year at the University of Toronto where he obtained an MA Degree in Physics specializing in Meteorology.

He met his wife, Bonnie Lindsay while attending the University of Western Ontario and were married in 1950 at St. Johns Anglican Church in St. Thomas, Ontario.

Following graduation from the University of Toronto in 1950, Clifford began his professional career as a meteorologist with the Federal Department of Transport in Montreal, PQ providing weather forecasting for the public and aviation industry.

In 1953 Clifford and Bonnie moved to Gander Airport in Newfoundland as a new challenge that continued for 4 years and included the birth of Patrick William Crozier.  Following Newfoundland, Clifford and family returned to Montreal in 1956 until taking up an appointment as an Atmospheric Research Scientist in the Cloud Physics Research Division of the Atmospheric Environment Service (AES) in Toronto.  His daughter Mary Frances was born in Montreal in 1957 and his second son, Steven Lloyd, was born 3 years later in Toronto.

Clifford continued working for the AES until his retirement in 1987 but continued to work under contract part-time for the next 10 years on research projects and consultation projects.  Clifford was awarded the Dr. Andrew Thompson Prize in Applied Meteorology in 1988 to recognize his pioneer work in the use of Doppler Radar in meteorology applications.  His research results were published in over 50 scientific papers.  Clifford also logged over 500 hours of flying time in atmospheric and cloud investigations from Nova Scotia to the Northwest Territories.

After settling down in Toronto’s Don Mills area in 1960, Clifford preserved his passion for woodworking from smaller projects up to large projects including bookshelves and grandfather clocks.  Clifford and Bonnie were also active members of Parkwoods United Church from its beginnings including membership on the Worship Committee, Choir, Readings, and Loaves and Fishes.

Using his extensive research skills Clifford also compiled the Crozier family tree dating back to 1770 Ireland resulting in a large book with meticulous attention to detail.

A service will be held at the Humphrey Funeral Home A.W. Miles – Newbigging Chapel, 1403 Bayview Avenue (south of Davisville Avenue) on Friday, September 28^th at 11:00 a.m.  Donations may be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation (2300 Yonge Street, Suite #1300, Toronto, ON M4P 1E4).  Condolences, photographs and memories may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com.