Harold

A celebration of Harold's life (PDF of Order of Service) was held at 2 p.m. on Saturday November 10th at the Unitarian Fellowship of London, 557 Clarke Road (map).

Harold was raised on a farm in Huron County, completed high school at Harbord Collegiate in Toronto, and obtained his B.Sc. (Eng.) at the University of Toronto in 1948. As a mechanical engineer, he worked initially for A.V. Roe, Orenda Engines and Hawker Siddeley on the design of airplane engines, including the Avro Arrow. (Airplanes had been his passion since childhood.) By the 1960s he found himself no longer able to work for the military industry and completed his "paid" career as a vibrations research engineer at Ontario Hydro where he studied plant equipment problems at nuclear energy plants.

Harold's community contributions were recognized by the Governor General of Canada in 1992 when he was awarded the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of Confederation. Harold served as a school board trustee in North York (1973-1978), where his interests included preserving small schools, special needs students, school bus safety, and values education. In the late 60s, Harold was involved in the fight to Save York Downs — Earl Bales Park. He was a tireless and dedicated worker in numerous community, peace and social justice organizations in Toronto and, from 1988 until June of this year, in London. Most recently, he was Parliamentarian of the Unitarian Fellowship of London, Treasurer of London-Fanshawe NDP, the Association for the Elimination of Hate, and Wiich ke yig (the London Chapter of the Canadian Alliance in Solidarity with Native Peoples), and Secretary of the Humanist Association of London and Area (HALA). An inspiration and mentor to many in both his paid and unpaid careers, Harold worked in a quiet, patient, often behind-the-scenes way.

Harold died at the age of 83 at Parkwood Hospital, London, of complications arising from heart failure. The family wishes to thank the staff of 5A North at Parkwood Hospital for their very compassionate and capable care.

Harold is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Dorothy Margaret (Notley), his children Marlene (Dan Milligan) of Ottawa, Norman (Cathy) of London, Susan (Ron Henderson) of Smithville and Brian (Laurie Borne) of Richmond, BC, grandchildren Jacquie (Jason Hollingsworth), Michelle (Craig Gavin), and Lisa Koehler, great-granddaughters Alyssa and Kierra Hollingsworth. Harold was predeceased by his older siblings, Shirley Craig of Toronto, Greta Erb of Hensall, Bruce of Hensall, and Kenneth of Huntsville and their spouses. He is a fondly remembered brother-in-law of Isabel Notley of London and E.R. (Ted) Notley ofToronto, and uncle to many nieces and nephews.