TIMOTHY ESCOTT REID

(1936 - 2025) Athlete, politician, educator, public servant, business leader, and above all, beloved husband, father, and uncle, Tim Reid died peacefully in his sleep, at his apartment at Belmont House, on the morning of October 9, 2025, the day after his wedding anniversary. He is mourned by his son, Dylan, and daughter-in-law, Molly McCarron; his daughter, Vanessa, and her partner, Cassie Robinson; sisters-in-law, Caroline Fancott and Paula Selmayr; brother-in-law, Jay Fancott; nieces and nephews, Graham Reid (Jackie Scott), Brendan Reid (Catherine Lewis), Hannah Reid (John Gorjup), Harriet Fancott (Mark Mogatas), Patrick Fancott (Carol), Nancy Fancott (Simon Beames) and Lisa Fancott; and many great- and great-great-nieces and nephews, to whom he was a beloved "gruncle," always ready to play, talk, or take them out for a meal. He follows in death his cherished wife, Julyan (née Fancott); much-loved siblings, Patrick and Morna; and brothers-in-law, Terrill and Robin Fancott. Born in 1936 to Canadian diplomat Escott Reid and his wife, Ruth (née Herriot), Tim's life was one of adventure from the start. He attended Lisgar Collegiate in Ottawa and Ridley College in St. Catharines, excelling at basketball, football, and track and field, particularly the high hurdles. After high school, during his father's posting as high commissioner to India, Tim spent several memorable months in India and then embarked on an epic journey - travelling by car from Delhi to Naples across South Central Asia, the Middle East and Eastern Europe with his sister's boyfriend, an officer in the Indian air force. At the University of Toronto's Trinity College, Tim formed lifelong friendships while studying politics and economics. He was particularly influenced by the teaching of the noted political scientist C.B. Macpherson. As a star running back for the Varsity Blues, he set a scoring record in their undefeated 1958 season when they won the Yates Cup. He was later inducted into the University of Toronto Sports Hall of Fame. After earning a Master's degree in economics at Yale, Tim won a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford. While there, he seized on a temporary thaw in Cold War relations to road-trip through Russia with Trinity friends - an adventure he delighted in recounting throughout his life. During the Christmas holiday of his second year, he crashed a party in Austria and set eyes on the love of his life, Julyan Fancott from Montreal, who was studying anthropology at the London School of Economics. They were engaged within months and sailed back to Canada in 1962 to begin a 50-year marriage marked by romance, public service, and deep devotion to family. Upon returning to Canada, Tim joined the Hamilton Tiger Cats and played in the legendary 1962 Fog Bowl, where Hamilton lost the Grey Cup to Winnipeg in fog so thick the game had to be completed the following day. From that game came one of the most iconic photographs in CFL history: Winnipeg running back Leo Lewis emerging from the fog as Tim, number 24, moves in for the tackle. The image was featured on a 2012 Canada Post stamp commemorating the 100th Grey Cup. Tim then helped establish York University as assistant to founding president Murray Ross. He soon defended his M.Litt degree from Oxford, which examined the policies of Bank of Canada president James Coyne, and became a professor of economics at York. During the ferment of the 1960s, he and Julyan co-edited the book Student Power and the Canadian Campus. He entered politics through the Liberal Party, running unsuccessfully in the Beaches in the 1965 federal election, then winning in Scarborough East in the 1967 provincial election to become an MPP and the Liberal opposition's education critic until his defeat in the 1971 election. In 1968, he helped organize the Ontario campaign for Pierre Trudeau's successful run for the federal leadership. In 1967, Tim and Julyan's son, Dylan, was born, followed in 1970 by their daughter, Vanessa. He loved being a father, and his commitment to his family was one of his greatest joys and achievements. Their first big adventure en famille was in 1972, when Tim joined the OECD in Paris, and the family embarked on a European experience filled with road trips to England, Spain, the Netherlands, and throughout France. In 1974, they returned to Canada and joined the federal public service, leaning into illustrious careers and lifelong support to each other. The Ottawa years were marked by enduring friendships, cross-country road trips with family, and enthusiastic participation in the capital's opportunities for cross-country skiing, skating, cycling, and running. As a transition out of the public service, Tim completed an intensive executive MBA at Harvard. In 1985, he became dean of the business school at what was then Ryerson Polytechnic, where he insisted on teaching a first-year course to stay connected with students. In 1989, he became president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, playing a prominent role in policy discussions about the GST, the deficit, and the Quebec referendum. After retirement, he served on the University of Toronto Governing Council and on the board of VIA Rail, chaired the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, joined a venture capital partnership, and became a regular fixture at the Toronto Lawn Tennis Club, where he was deeply committed to working on his serve. Tim and Julyan were adventurous travellers, exploring both Canada and the world. Their photo albums overflow with images from countless trips, culminating in an extended journey to India after Julyan's retirement. Every summer they rented a cottage in Muskoka from an old friend, hosting family and friends in a tradition that everyone cherished. After Julyan's death in 2012, Tim remained devoted to her memory, keeping their life vibrantly alive through the stories he loved to tell. He continued travelling with his children, daughter-in-law, and other family members, and when he could no longer physically travel, he was ever interested - you could be sure to be asked where you had been in the world and what projects you were working on. Tim was known for the sparkle in his eye, his endless curiosity, deep sensitivity, and love of dancing - qualities that remained with him until the very end. In the company of children, he was the first to get down on the floor to play at eye level, often becoming a tiger or a gentle giant. His sense of humour was absurdist, sometimes missing the mark, which could be the funniest part. He loved a glass of bubbly, or a croissant with peanut butter (to Julyan's despair), and was known for preparing great breakfasts. In 2018, Tim moved to Belmont House, a retirement residence, where he was a proud volunteer and member of the residents' council. He became a beloved fixture of the neighbourhood: getting his daily latte at the nearby Starbucks, having lunch at the tennis club, enjoying regular steak frites with a glass of wine at the Rosedale Diner, and basking in the sun in Ramsden Park. He remained committed to mentoring and supporting younger generations, acting as listener, advisor, mentor, and elder. Always the consummate athlete, he was still doing physio until his last week of life. As his capacities diminished, Tim found profound joy sitting in the beautiful Stillman Garden at Belmont House, commenting on the impermanence of clouds, watching the fountain, and observing the birds playing in the sun. During these later years, Dylan and Vanessa cared for their father, a role they embraced with deep devotion. Tim's family is deeply grateful for the wonderful care provided by the staff at Belmont House and by his caregivers from Home Instead during the final years of his life. He was deeply loved and cared for, and was never shy to share his gratitude and appreciation for a life well lived. A celebration of life will be held at the Mount Pleasant Funeral Centre (375 Mount Pleasant Road), on Sunday, November 2nd, at 2 p.m. Everyone whose life was touched by Tim is invited to attend. Tim loved flowers. His slides, home movies, and photos are full of images of flowers. Nothing pleased him more than fresh flowers in his apartment. Please feel free to send or bring flowers to the memorial. If you would prefer to give to charity, donations to Belmont House or to Interval House in his name would be greatly appreciated.