PETER DEMPSTER KING

1923 - 2025 Peacefully in his sleep, at the age of 102, Peter Dempster King passed away in Toronto on December 28th. Peter was predeceased by his first wife, Ann Parkhill King, and his second wife, Joanie Carlisle King. Dad is survived by his four children, Deborah (Rob), Lisa (Rob), Geoffrey (Jacques) and Andrew (Tammy), and his stepdaughter, Jennifer Ridout. Greatdaddy will be missed by his seven grandchildren, Rebecca, Trevor (Laura), Andrew (Alicia), Diana, John (Holly), Kalton and Jaden, and his two great-grandchildren, Brooks and Charlize. Born in Brantford, ON, the eldest child of George Allen Ross King and Frances Dempster King, Peter was predeceased by his brothers, William, Hugh (Jan) and Donald (Stephanie). He is survived by his sister, Barbara Chisholm of Toronto, and by Nancy Ann Parkhill of Winnipeg, and will be fondly remembered by his King, Chisholm and Parkhill nephews and nieces, and their respective families. Peter graduated with a BSc (Chem. Eng., 1946) from Queen's University and earned a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation. He held management positions with Shell Canada, Emco Ltd., CON-ENG Contractors and London Life Insurance Company, and lived in Montréal, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Burlington and London, ON, and Vancouver. Dad had a lifelong passion for sports. A member of Queen's Gaels all-star football team and hockey team, he was, at the time of his death, the oldest living alumnus of the CFL's Montréal Alouettes for which he played tight end in 1946 and 1947. He played tight end for the Edmonton Eskimos (Elks) in 1949, and later served as a director of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Dad was also an accomplished golfer. He was introduced to the sport by his Uncle Reg and Auntie Bar Woffindin at the Brantford Golf and Country Club, and quickly earned a scratch handicap. He was fortunate to be a member and club champion at several highly-ranked clubs, as well as a Willingdon Cup team member and a winner of the Ontario Father/Daughter golf tournament. Dad cared deeply for his family and loved nothing better than to impart his passion for sports, and the benefits of an active and healthy lifestyle, by teaching his children and grandchildren the requisite skills and techniques. "To keep my mind sharp," as he put it, Dad enjoyed playing cards (bridge and gin rummy), and doing jigsaw and crossword puzzles while listening to jazz and big band music. Peter was a true, "old school" gentleman with an optimistic outlook, who treated others with the utmost respect and courtesy. He was humble in the best sense of the word and gave of his time by volunteering for the United Way (Winnipeg), the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the YMCA and the Hyland Institute of Hydrotherapy (London, ON). Our family wishes to thank the staff and supervisors at West Park LTCC in Toronto for their attentive support of and care for our father during the last three years of his life. A private, family gathering to commemorate Peter will be held at a future date.