William H. Logan

Feisty and competitive to the end, Bill Logan pushed himself to achieve one final milestone before his passing on Thursday, June 27, 2024.

When he died peacefully at 3:00 a.m., just hours after celebrating his 99th birthday, he surpassed a marker set by his grandfather, David Logan, who died at 98 years. Despite Bill’s faltering health over the past few weeks, he willed himself to make it to June 26 – a date circled on his calendar by his daughters – and officially enter his 100th year before departing this world.

William Harry Logan was born in Scarborough, Ontario on June 26, 1925, to Harry and Lillian Logan, and sister, Bernice. As a child of the Great Depression and the Second World War, Bill overcame many obstacles, relying on a combination of scrappiness, love of fun and an irrepressible zest for life.

Growing up in the Toronto neighbourhood of Riverdale, he helped support his family through tough times with a Toronto Telegram newspaper route that, at its peak, encompassed two hundred homes. Although he stood only about five feet, eight inches – earning him the nickname “Shorty” from his father – he made his way through the ranks of minor hockey to secure a spot as a right winger on the Toronto Victory Aircraft Junior B team. He regaled his grandchildren with stories about his battles on the ice. Curling was another sport Bill enjoyed over the decades, first as a member of the Tam O’Shanter Curling Club in Agincourt then as a founding member of the new Tam Heather Curling Club. He later joined the Huntsville Curling Club where he was a member for many years.

Bill knew Ruth (nee Watson) for several years before they started dating and eventually married in 1949. The couple settled in Agincourt, Scarborough where they had four daughters: Lyn, the late Kathy, Debbie, and Kim. Bill and Ruth enjoyed 48 years together before Ruth passed away in 1997. Bill found love again and married Margaret (nee Macklin) who passed away in 2014.

Bill began his career as a teacher before being promoted to principal, first at Agincourt Public School, later Guildwood P.S. and Tecumseh Senior P.S. He completed an undergraduate degree, majoring in psychology, from the University of Toronto in 1965. He was the first post-secondary graduate from his family, a point of immense pride for Bill. He retired from the Scarborough Board of Education in 1981.

When he bought lakefront property in Muskoka, in the late 1960’s, he tapped his social network to help him build what became his most treasured possession – the family cottage. Every weekend a make-shift crew of friends, colleagues and his daughters trekked up Hwy. 11 to Rebecca Lake to help him construct what remains a familial centre piece. Bill and Ruth loved Muskoka and eventually moved to Huntsville in 1996.

Among his other passions was music. He especially loved musical productions, big band sounds, the standards, particularly Frank Sinatra. Bill and Ruth enjoyed dining and dancing to this music at the Palais Royale and the Royal York Hotel. Bill had an abiding love and respect for nature and all animals. In fact, squirrels and blue jays will miss his generous supply of peanuts!

Bill is survived by his daughters, Lyn McArthur (d. Ross ), Debbie Hood (Frank), and Kim Logan (Dan) as well as his seven grandchildren, Joe (Jen), Greg (Hayley), Luke (Jenny), Geoff (Amanda), Dean, Jonathan, and Emily (Josh). He was also a great-grandfather to Cy, Jane, Isla and his namesake, Logan.

The family is grateful for the exceptional care Bill received by the staff at The Pines Nursing Home, Bracebridge where he spent the last year and a half.

As per Bill’s wishes there will be no funeral. Condolences may be left at mitchellfuneralhome.ca, Huntsville, On and if desired, donations may be made to the Canadian Wildlife Federation http://canadianwildlifefederation.ca/.