Obituary of David John Plummer

DAVID JOHN PLUMMER

October 3, 1956 – December 23, 2022

With profound sadness, we announce the passing of our rock, David. Beloved husband of the late Rosalind and adored father of their three children, Gillian (Philip), Katherine (Trevor), and Nicola (Graham). Cherished husband of Barbara Huisman Goldhar. Dearest son of the late Pat and George Plummer and son-in-law to Rose Fraser (and the late Robert Fraser). Devoted brother of Lynn Morse (Paul), Wendy Hinde (Mel), and Doug Plummer (Sandy), and brother-in-law to Sharon and Robert Stromdahl. Caring uncle to Jeffrey, Julia, Peter, and Sam Morse; Christy Hinde; Eric, Adam, and Ted Plummer; and Jeffrey and Jordan Stromdahl. He will be missed by his loving and loveable dog, Boady.

David was born and raised in Toronto, where he attended Upper Canada College (‘75). He graduated from Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1979, a proud engineer through and through. Together with his best friend Ros, they built their company, Clearmount, over the course of 28 incredible years, and then later with his daughters Kate and Gill for another five. When he wasn’t working, he spent as much time as possible with his family and friends, often in the three places that meant the most to him in the world: Thornbury, Muskoka and Nicholson Point.

David dedicated considerable time to supporting and growing the promotional products industry, including as past chairman of the Promotional Product Professionals of Canada and inductee into their Hall of Fame. He was a familiar and trusted face in the industry, and he will be remembered fondly by this tight-knit community.

David had an enormous capacity for generosity and optimism. In 2017, following the tragic passing of the family matriarch, Ros, David and his three daughters clung to one another. He called the girls his pillars of strength, but really, he was the one who carried the family through that unimaginably difficult time.

David found love again with his second wife, Barb. They were bonded together in a shared understanding of what it means to love and lose, and buoyed each other through the storm with compassion and caring.

Over the past nine months, David was determined not to let his cancer diagnosis slow him down, going on bike rides and swimming with his kids, spending time at the Lakehouse with Barb, and even selling his company. He spent his final days over the holidays at home, with visits from his many devoted friends and family, surrounded by love from his daughters, sons-in-law, and Barb. In his honour, please open the “good” Scotch and say a toast.

The family will receive friends at the Humphrey Funeral Home, 1403 Bayview Avenue (south of Davisville Avenue) on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 from 2:00 – 7:00 p.m. There will be a funeral service held at St. John’s York Mills Anglican Church, 19 Don Ridge Drive (north of York Mills Road) on Wednesday, January 18, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. Following the service, a reception to celebrate David’s life will be held on Wednesday, January 18, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. at the Toronto Cricket Club, 141 Wilson Avenue.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in David’s memory to The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, so that fewer families have to experience their same heartbreak: https://supportthepmcf.ca/PDPMemorial/djplums. Condolences, photographs, and memories may be forwarded through https://humphreymiles.com/.

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