GEORGE HERBERT WHYTE

1943 - 2024

August 5, 1943 - October 26, 2024 George was born in Toronto and raised in Toronto and Port Credit, Ontario. He was an amazing husband, father, grandfather, musician, scholar, teacher, author and cartoonist. George attended Port Credit High School from 1957-1962, followed by Middlebury College in Vermont on a hockey scholarship from 1962 to 1966. He attended McGill University in Montreal from 1966-1968, completing his Master's degree in Canadian and American History. In 1967, George married Helen Phelps Martin. They embarked on a two-year adventure, hitch-hiking through Europe, Asia, India and Australia, on what George claimed was "a budget of 30 cents a day." George played pro-hockey in Germany and Austria, worked on a pick and shovel crew, lived in a castle in Southern Germany and taught at an Anglican Seminary in Perth before returning to Canada. He taught Adult Education for a year on Manitoulin Island, and a History refresher course for teachers for Cambrian College. George spent his first summer at Murphy Point on Manitoulin Island in 1948 with his parents and brother. The family gathered here with friends and neighbours from Toronto each summer. He learned to play the guitar, enjoy singsongs and fish at Murphy Point. It was here he began his life-long quest to preserve the wilderness along the South Shore. In 1970, George and Helen ran Murphy Point Resort for the owner, Joe Brown, and ultimately purchased the Resort. They ran the resort each summer for 5 years while George was teaching at Hillfield Strathallan school in Hamilton. They incorporated Murphy Point in 1976, sold 9 shares to friends, and kept a share for the Whyte family. Murphy Point Inc. is now into the 4th generation of friends and family enjoying the amazing south shore on Lake Huron. George wore many hats during his lifetime – hockey player, world traveller, resort owner, conservationist, teacher, Developer/Builder in southern Ontario as well as in the Dominican Republic, Politician (Burlington Council, PC Party of Canada, PC Canada Fund), author of many books including an in-depth history of Manitoulin Island. George first met Donna Haynes in 1970, and they reconnected in 2004 and began their life together. They lived on 10 acres in Flesherton, Ontario for 13 years, and then travelled across the world each winter, returning to spend summers at Murphy Point. George had three mentors in his life, the Reverend Canon Anthony Pearce, Roly Bird, Mayor of Burlington during George's time on Burlington Council, and Willard Witty, farmer, fisherman and true friend of the Whytes and Murphy Point. He developed his motto for life, based on these three gentlemen: "Use your brains, work hard, be honest, and do what you say you will do. Do not be in a hurry, but be prepared to take advantage of opportunities." George was predeceased by his parents, Herb and Violetta Whyte; and his brother, Jack Whyte. He is survived by his partner of 20 years, Donna Haynes, his two boys, Andrew and Martin Whyte, his wonderful grandchildren, Freya and Audacy Whyte in Australia, his first wife and good friend, and mother of their children, Helen Whyte, his nephew, Dylon Whyte and his wife, Ashley. George had many wonderful friends, one of whom was his "best friend," whom he met at Hillfield Strathallan School, Ian Budge. We are all heartbroken. There will be a Celebration of George's life and small gathering of friends and family at Murphy Point, Manitoulin Island next summer.