Leonard Michael BERRY

Michael passed away on March 6, 2024, surrounded by friends and family. A much loved husband, father and grandfather, he is survived by his loving wife, Anna; children, Eliza, Mark (Angela) and Kathryn (Carl); brother, Stephen; grandchildren, Mika, Kylia, Madeline and James; stepdaughter, Rina (Garry); step-granddaughter, Amahra; nephews, Darren (Wendy), Louigi (Rosie) Carmen; and nieces, Daniella (Ozzie), Hannah (Wil) and Gina. He was predeceased by his parents, Leonard and Margaret (nee Wynne), and his first wife, Linda (nee Randal) and brother, Rodney. Michael and family immigrated to Toronto from Bolton, Lancashire, in 1954 at the age of sixteen. He worked for Avro Canada and Procter & Gamble before entering McGill University in 1957. A keen cricketer from his Bolton School days, he played for the Toronto Cricket S & C Club first team (1955-61) and on various UK tours. In the Canadian Club Championship final in 1957 against the Montreal Adastrians he shared in a record batting partnership of over 300 runs. He also represented Ontario in the interprovincial competition. In later years he played in Ottawa, Berlin, London, Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Australia, making many good friends along the way. At McGill he was a regular on the University soccer team, Producer of the 1961 Red and White Revue "Oh Kennedy We Stand On Guard For Thee" and graduated with an Honours degree in Economics & Political Science. He then joined the Department of Finance in Ottawa before becoming an assistant to Justice Minister, E.Davie Fulton. In 1963 He returned to McGill for post-graduate studies in international relations and became captain of the University soccer team. In the following years he entered the Canadian Foreign Service in which he served in various capacities and locations for 35 years. His first foreign postings were to Berlin and London followed by senior assignments in Ottawa, including as a "Sous Sherpa" to PM Trudeau at the London G-7 Leaders Summit in 1983 and to PM Mulroney at the 1984 Bonn meeting. His head of mission appointments were as High Commissioner to Singapore (1979-82) and later to Australia (1991-95) and as Ambassador to the OECD in Paris (1988-1991). His final task in Ottawa was that of co-ordinating Canada's role in the re-construction and governance structuring of Bosnia. In 1997 he and his first wife Linda moved to BC to undertake a two-year assignment as Diplomat-in-Residence at Vancouver Island University, and retired from the Foreign Service in 2000, settling in Qualicum Beach. In BC he served on the Boards of the BC Centre for International Education, the Nanaimo Port Authority and the Pacific Pilotage Authority. Michael was a dear and loving husband, father and a good friend to many, especially his golf group. He will be greatly missed. In accordance with his wishes, there will be no funeral service but a gathering will be held to celebrate his life.