Ray ARGYLE

RAY ARGYLE After a lifetime of creativity, love, and achievement, Ray Argyle died in Cobourg, Ontario, on June 22, 2022 at the age of 92. He will be sadly missed by his children, grandchildren, and partner, Deborah Windsor. Ray believed in tackling big projects and reinvented himself as a journalist, a public affairs advisor, and an author. His journey began in 1929 in Winnipeg, MB, the youngest of four sons of Percy and Kate Argyle. After his mother's death and his father's remarriage, Ray left school to find work in journalism. Ray was committed to his family and was a friend and mentor to his employees and associates in business, the arts, and politics. He enjoyed his Muskoka cottage and gained pleasure from time spent with his family, and since 2000, with Deborah. At the age of 20, Ray became editor of a chain of 35 weekly papers in Alberta. Following that, he joined the British United Press news agency (now UPI) and worked for the old Toronto Telegram. He formed his own consulting firm, Argyle Communications Inc. in 1979. Ray wrote ten books published by leading Canadian and U.S. publishers. Much of his writing reflected his humanist views. He served as a trustee with the Scarborough Board of Education and the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, and was awarded a Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal for his "contributions to Canada." Even with his many professional achievements, it was the personal ones that were Ray's greatest source of pride. When each of his grandchildren were born, he put aside education savings so they could pursue post-secondary studies free from debt. In 2016, Ray was instrumental in bringing a Syrian writer refugee and his family to Canada. Most recently, Ray was supporting a Kingston, ON-based Ukrainian refugee organization. As Ray wrote in his final week, "The way I look at it, a year or two added to an active 92-year life doesn't really make that much difference. I'm a winner. A guy who started out with nothing and ended up with everything." Ray was married to the late Marie Holowack and is survived by three daughters, Sharon (David Norman), Brenda (Steve Penna) and Roanne (Wayne Watson); four grandchildren, Christopher, Logan, Sarah, and Jenna; and partner, Deborah.