Obituary of Philip William Stoddart

PHILIP WILLIAM STODDART

August 29, 1947 - May 4, 2023

On May 4th, Philip Stoddart left our world the same way he lived it, in control and in the company of loved ones: Nadine, Amy, Michael and, of course, his canine buddy Chompers. Philip will be greatly missed by his immediate family, including Darla, Lauren, Owen, Evan, Ella, and Hunter, sister Margaret (Cheryl), brother Edward (Katharina), as well as a large circle of family, friends, and colleagues.

Philip was born to WIlliam B. Stoddart and Vera K. Forman on August 29, 1947, at Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay, Ontario. It was during his childhood that Philip fell in love with Balsam Lake, the location of so many memories and the heart and soul of the Stoddart and Forman clans, both of whom continue to frequent and cherish that place today.

With a father in the Canadian Armed forces, Philip had many moves over the years, always in the back seat of a slick 1950s or 60s family sedan, memories that seeded his lifelong passion for cars. After university, he established himself in Toronto, and in 1971 married the love of his life, Nadine. Together they raised their children, Amy and Michael. Life in Toronto led to new opportunities, first at Clarkson Gordon (now Ernst and Young), and in 1977, Philip joined Kilmer Van Nostrand Co. Limited (KVN). At that time, KVN was a multifaceted construction and road paving company.  Over the ensuing 46 years, Philip helped spearhead the acquisition of what came to be the Warren Paving and Materials Group Limited, oversaw the conversion of KVN from an operating company to an investment holding company, and contributed to the growth of the Kilmer Group into the organization it is today. Philip had an aptitude for, and interest in, how things worked, whether it was machinery, people, systems, taxes, or investing. He had the ability to see and consider most facets of a situation simultaneously and liked nothing better than to set difficult goals, establish the strategy to achieve them, and successfully execute that strategy. If it included a convoluted tax angle, so much the better. Throughout his career, he was known as a keen listener, mentor, and for his sense of modesty that engendered the trust and confidence of all who engaged with him.

Philip’s life became a seasonal rhythm of good friends and get-togethers. Whether in Toronto, winters in Florida, or summers at the lake, Philip always had multiple projects on the go. He was as much at home in the boardroom as at the helm of a tractor, and could often be found in a quiet place with a newspaper and a dog in his lap. He loved cars, tools, his barn full of toys and a good ‘50s soundtrack, but most of all, he cherished his large extended family. In his quietly confident way, he served as the unobtrusive centre of his loving family, one that warmly absorbed new friends and relations deep into its fold with every passing year.

There are numerous people who count Philip as their most important mentor and chief cheerleader. Ever humble about the significance of his impact, as he would never accept any credit for anyone else’s success, Philip was influential in the lives of so many of his colleagues, family members, and friends. He demonstrated his consistent values through example and his sense of decency, hard work, loyalty, generosity, and fairness were admired by all who were lucky to know him.
 

Philip was a man of few words because he only used the best ones. His quick wit and lightning fast one-liners are legendary. He did not fill space with words, but listened carefully to those around him, a quality that is sometimes uncelebrated, but often crucial to the kind of success and contentment that was important to Philip, and to those who love him.

Philip will be remembered at Lawrence Park Community Church on Thursday, May 18th at 11:00 a.m., with a reception immediately to follow. Spring colours are encouraged. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the UHN Foundation to support research in HPB surgery and pancreatic cancer (uhnfoundation.ca/tribute or 416-603-5300).

The family would like to thank Dr. Ian McGilvray, Dr. Victoria Smart and Dr. Monika Krzyzanowska and the team from Princess Margaret Hospital, as well as Dr. Jordan Elmalem and the palliative care team from Mount Sinai Hospital. A special thank you to Jeanney for all her devotion to patient care at a time when it was needed the most.

© 2023 Humphrey Funeral Home A.W. Miles – Newbigging Chapel Limited. All Rights Reserved.