Rene Philippe ROY

1958 - 2023

RENÉ PHILIPPE ROY March 14, 1958 - January 28, 2023 At his beloved farm in Horning's Mills, Ontario, René Philippe Roy left this mortal earth. With broken hearts but grateful for the time we had with this amazing man, his family and friends grieve his loss. Left to mourn and carry on as best they can are his wife, Elizabeth Doherty, and children, André and Joanna Roy. René is also survived by his mother, Vivi Roy; sister, Eva; and her husband, Doug; brother, Peter; sister-in-law, Mary Roy; and many nieces, nephews, brothers- and sisters-in-law from both the Roy and Doherty extended families. René was predeceased by his father, Romeo Joseph Roy - his role model and guiding star. René was born at St. Michael's Hospital and spent his early years in North Toronto before moving to Rimouski, Quebec. The family returned to Toronto in the late 1960s, ultimately settling into a new neighbourhood in North Toronto where he attended Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute. René forged life-long relationships with his high school friends, still meeting regularly for lunches, celebrations, and helping each other through life's ups and downs. René attended more universities than you can count on one hand - some for just one day! - and graduated from Queen's University with a degree in civil engineering. Here too he met lifelong friends from his Laurentian University and Queen's days. It was not possible to watch a sporting event without 'the boys' text chat line being in full gear. After beginning his career in construction, he came full circle by joining St. Michael's Hospital in the mid-1990s to oversee hospital design and construction projects. He took pride in his work, and had a deep satisfaction in having been mentored, and then mentoring, the incredible team in the hospital's Planning and Development division. René was a long-time Harbord Village resident, and a regular fixture walking his incredibly handsome mutt (Buddy Roy). He regularly enjoyed a pint or two at his local, Harbord House pub, with neighbours and close friends Tom Clute and Fiona Smith. It was a blind date in August 1993 that changed the trajectory of René and Elizabeth's lives. Elizabeth remembers that the first time she heard his voice, she felt like she had come home (René would often say that he thought she didn't like him). Married the following August, they built a life centred around love and family. Blessed with two incredible children, they enjoyed a family bond that consoles them and is giving them strength through this incredibly sad time. A memorial visitation will be held on Thursday, February 9, 2023, from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. at G. H. Hogle Funeral Home, 63 Mimico Ave., Etobicoke (www.hogle.ca). A funeral service will be held at St. Andrew's United Church, 117 Bloor Street East, Toronto, at 1:00 p.m. on February 11, 2023, and will be livestreamed at: Celebrating the life of René Roy - Service begins at 1:00 p.m. - YouTube. Memories of René can be shared at www.mykeeper.com/profile/ReneRoy. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Médecins Sans Frontières (www.msf.org). Sleep tight my love. You will always be in our hearts. We were all so blessed having you in our world.