May 20, 1938 to December 1, 2014
With courage and dignity, Peter left us to join his heavenly family. We mourn the loss and will remember his ‘joie de vivre’, generosity of spirit, steadiness under adversity and hard work. Cherished memories will remain in the hearts of his wife, Sue (and Sam, their border collie); daughters, Sarah (Tyler Gibson) in Toronto and Amy (Robert Campbell) in Kingston, Ontario; son, Tim (Tracey) in Vancouver and granddaughters, Estella and Clementine Campbell. Dear son of the late Loretta Coffey and Barclay Yuile from Montreal, he will be lovingly remembered by his aunt, Libby O’Brien in Westmount, Quebec; his sister, Susan Assaly in Van Kleek Hill, Ontario and their families. An alumni of Selwyn House School, Lower Canada College, Sir George Williams University and the University of Western Ontario, Peter enjoyed a life-long career in the investment community. He was a fun and caring individual who always shared his unique and endlessly positive view of life. Our thanks to Dr. Catherine Fitzgerald and the compassionate team at Victoria Hospice for their dedication and care.
A Memorial Reception will be held at the Union Club, 805 Gordon Street, Victoria on Tuesday, December 16, 2014 at 2.00 pm. Interment will take place at Mount Royal Cemetery, Montreal, when the flowers bloom in the Spring. Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Bros. Funeral Home
22 Responses
I was sorry to learn of Peter’s passing and I just wanted to extend my sincere condolences to all of you at this time. Over the past several years, I had the privilege of meeting Peter when our LCC Alumni Association held Alumni evenings in Victoria. Peter would always arrive with a smile on his face and with him he would bring some memorabilia from his days at the School – a yearbook or photos etc. He obviously had fond memories of his time at Lower Canada College and it was always a pleasure talking with him and hearing about his time growing up in Montreal. I will miss his pleasant and positive disposition when we are next on the West Coast. Once again, my sympathies to your entire Family at this time.
A. Victor Badian
Ambassador for the Alumni Association of Lower Canada College, Montreal
Dear Sue, Sarah, Amy and Tim,
I was deeply saddened to learn yesterday of Peter’s passing. On behalf of Lower Canada College and the Alumni Association, please accept my sincerest condolences for your loss. Since 2003, I had the wonderful opportunity to spend time with and have dinner with Peter at our Victoria alumni events. He had such vivid memories of LCC and Montreal, and I always thoroughly enjoyed seeing him. I extend my deepest sympathies to you and your entire family at this most difficult time.
Sincerely,
Kirk LLano
Director of Alumni Engagement
Lower Canada College
I am very sorry for your loss. I work at the BCSC and have known Peter for many years. He was such a wonderful man. Everytime I had the opportunity to see him, he would have the biggest, most friendly smile, a positive attitude, and an interesting story to tell. Peter was a very sweet man and I will miss him.
I am so sorry I did not manage to see Peter after I returned from Fiji. I felt I had time but when I phoned he was already sick. He had looked after my account for many years and I always enjoyed the long talks I had with him on the phone – always much more personal than business. I will miss that and I am sure your family will miss his wonderful personality.
Olivia
Peter was my boss but more than that a dear friend. I worked with Peter from 2006 to 2012 and it will stand clear in my mind as the best job anyone could ask for. A happy man every morning, saying with a kind bounce in his voice “good morning Patricia!”. Peter was always sunshine and made a choice every morning of his life to wake up happy and to be kind to everyone no matter how they behave.
Peter loved his dog, his best friend and “Just for laughs” (GAGS) out of Montreal. He’d come into work and tell me about the gags on the show the night before and as he’d start to speak he would start to laugh. The more Peter thought about the gags the harder he’d laugh and by the time he got it all out we’d be in tears from laughing so hard. It was always fun to be part of Peter’s circle of friends, you felt safe and cared about. Peter had a way of making everyone in his life feel important and I will miss him dearly.
Most of all Peter loved his family and his children. Pete was so proud of you all and talked about you daily.
You will be deeply missed Peter. The world has lost a kind sole who would do no harm. My deepest sympathy to the family.
Sue (and Sam) and family
I missed the obituary (do not know how); and someone mentioned they had read Peter’s obituary. What a shock but it explains why I have not recently had the friendly ‘very early morning’ wave from Peter as he walked Sam
Thinking of all of you
Dear Sue,
My introduction to Peter and Sam was, by my then six month old Border Collie puppy Mollie, nearly nine years ago. Sam soon became Mollie’s best friend. Since that time Peter and Sam came by to pick up Mollie almost every weekend. Peter’s car would draw up outside the house, with the marching band music playing, and Mollie would bound eagerly to greet Peter. Mollie was like a crazy teenager and was totally in love with Sam and Peter. On their return Mollie would gaze at Peter with her big eyes, she was totally besotted by Peter’s gentleness, trust, kindness and total love of life and border collies. I would hear the stories of Sam and Mollie playing the “pass off game” along with how many border collies they had met on their travels. At 4:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday’s Mollie still looks and listens for Peter her wonderful fun filled friend.
Vivienne and Mollie
Dear Sue and Family,
Peter and I grew up as neighbours in Westmount, attending Selwyn together in the late 40’s and early 50’s. Our paths since university days went different ways but I was delighted when we both showed up again at the Selwyn annual Vancouver reunions. Nothing had really changed over all those years for two old friends. I will miss his happy face when we meet again next Fall. My deepest condolences to all of you.
Richard Bennetts
Furry Creek, BC
I’m so sorry for your loss. I work at the BCSC and knew Peter since the early 90s when we registered his. I’ll never forget the time he told me that I had the exact same colour of eyes as one of his daughters.
Peter was a very sweet man and I will miss him.
karin
I very much enjoyed speaking with Peter at our Selwyn Reunions in Vancouver. I hope that all the happy memories you have of Peter will help you and your family through this difficult time.