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William GREER Obituary
Memories and Condolences
for William GREER
25 Entries
Ciara McKeown
March 14, 2023
Sending love to Rina and your family, on the loss of such an astounding man who contributed so much to the communities he loved. I only had the pleasure of meeting William once or twice, but I will always remember the love, admiration and respect with which Rina shared about him and the life you all shared together. My deepest sympathies.
Colomba B Fuller
March 2, 2023
To Rina and family,
Unfortunately, I met Bill a few times only, but could tell that he belonged to a forgotten generation of men, erudite, sophisticated and gentle man.
Please accept my heartfelt condolences. He will greatly be missed by his lovely family and beloved grandchildren.
Rest in peace!
Colomba B Fuller
michael mcclelland
February 20, 2023
RIna, Jonathan and Simon - Bill was a good friend who always spoke with such pride and warmth about his family. You should know that he was a wonderful architect and that he changed the face of
this city.
Bronwyn Krog
February 19, 2023
To Rina and family - You were fortunate indeed to have had a gentleman and gentle man as husband and father. As a young planner in my career, he was a role model for thoughtful Heritage decisions, a man that balanced preservation with excellence in new architecture, blending the past with the future. He had impeccable manners and a calm spirit. Bill often worked quietly behind the scenes to bring about the kind of change that would always made Toronto that much better. Later in his life, his advice was sought and given informally on many projects, by seasoned developers and college trustees alike, on small projects and those of a civic scale. We wanted Bill´s insight that would help make a given project it´s best possible addition to the city, or his subtle urgings to push on for a better outcome. Bill never sought the limelight, yet he was justifiably showered with honours. Bill is remembered with fondness and great respect. He will probably make heaven a better place.
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Jill Taylor
February 19, 2023
Charles and I express our sincere condolences to you Rina and to your children and grandchildren. Bill was one of the most important people Toronto has known in his dedication to preservation of cultural, landscape and architectural heritage. He has been influential in the lives of generations of practitioners and has inspired us. At the beginning of our careers he took a leap of faith and supported us, made conservation come alive. He was such a kind and generous man, with a dignity and spirit, a friendliness and care from a past world that he gave freely as a gift to all those who crossed his path. Sincerely Jill and Charles. Work friends
Cathryn L Reeves
February 18, 2023
Dear Rina, Jonny, Simon and family,
Bill was part of a generation of men who truly understood what it meant to contribute to the greater good.
We have all been beneficiaries of those efforts.
A lovely gracious man.
Loving thoughts from our family to yours.
Cathy Reeves, Josh Kester and Robin Kester-Martin
Sandra Shaul
February 17, 2023
As a director of the Annex Residents' Association responsible for heritage in our neighbourhood, I was always appreciative of the help and advocacy that Bill extended. He was a real pro; I a true amateur. Behind that gentlemanly and knowledgeable exterior was the heart and soul of a true community activist. Every time I walk by the construction site on Prince Arthur, I think of Bill and how much more appropriate the new building will be because of his persistence.
Warm regards,
Sandra
Elizabeth and David Sisam
February 17, 2023
Dear Rina, Jonathan, Simon and all the family,
We extend our heartfelt condolences.
A friend colleague once remarked that Bill was a true gentleman in every sense of the word. His knowledge and advice were highly respected by all.
Toronto, its institutions and its communities benefitted greatly from his advice, knowledge and commitment as has been recognized by the great number of awards and acknowledgments he received.
He will be greatly missed by the heritage community and friends he made along the way.
Pleasance Crawford
February 15, 2023
To Rina and all the family, my condolences. Working with Bill on any heritage project was a privilege and a joy. I admired the depth of his knowledge and experience. I trusted his ability to solve problems. I appreciated his generosity. I delighted in his stories and his love of Tim Horton's macaroons.
Fabienne Bilodeau and Ross Racine
February 14, 2023
To Rina, Jonathan, Simon and all the family,
Bill was such a warm and welcoming person, humble about his accomplishments. It was a privilege for us to have known him and share moments with the family. Our hearts go especially to Rina for the loss of a remarkable and loving companion. Our sincere condolences.
Antonio Gomez-Palacio
February 14, 2023
Rina, as you know, Bill was not only a dear friend for us, he was also a friend of my family since 1942. And layered over the personal, he was a colleague from whom we learned much, and who´s legacy permeates many many corners of our city. Bill´s grace, aplomb, generosity, humility, and erudition have set an extraordinary example, not just as a professional, but as a human being. We consider ourselves extremely lucky to have crossed paths, as many times as we did, with Bill.
Antonio + Ana Francisca
Don and Colleen Critelli
February 13, 2023
To Rina, Jonathan and Simon. May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate Bill's life well lived. Our sincere condolences. Don and Colleen Critelli
Millie Chen & Warren Quigley
February 13, 2023
Remembering Bill, we are filled with memories of a man of vision and dedicated passion. His was a unique path devoted to the preservation of the too easily lost qualities of a rapidly changing city. Bill was always curious and engaged, and also had a keen, inspired eye, producing an archive of wonderful photographs that documented numerous complicated installations at the venerable Toronto Sculpture Garden. We will dearly miss spending time with him.
Matt
February 12, 2023
My sincere condolences for all the Greer family members. RIP Bill
Mark Sterling
February 12, 2023
To Rina and the family. Please accept my profound condolences. Bill was a beautiful and generous man.
Eleanor R Goldhar
February 11, 2023
To Rina and the entire family and Bill's many friends and admirers, our sincerest condolences on the great loss of a man who meant so much to so many - in his personal, professional and volunteer life. He truly made a difference. Eleanor Goldhar and John Vollmer from New York City.
Julieta Martinez
February 11, 2023
One of the most respectful and sophisticate, intellectual human been.
It is no dude that behind of that great man was his great woman to achieve everything with passion, peace and love.
The power of him was in his generosity and inquisitive mind.
It was a pleasure and a honour to be around of him and his family.
All my love for Rina and their kids.
Julieta Martinez
Pilates Instructor
Gee Chung
February 10, 2023
Bill's Contribution to the Bloor-Yorkville Community
It was a privilege and a pleasure to work alongside Bill. We met in 2001 when Bill joined the Greater Yorkville Residents Association (GYRA). A staunch advocate for the protection and preservation of Yorkville's built heritage, he gave unstintingly of his time in many meetings with developers who presented plans to build high-rise condominiums in our low-rise neighborhood. This was a revolutionary change that threatened to destroy the very fabric of Yorkville's Victorian charm. Bill patiently explained how historic characteristics could easily be expressed in the new built form by defining the scale, proportion, texture and materials that would reflect the integrity of Yorkville's past, and would also sit well in the context of contemporary Yorkville. Built in 2007, the Yorkville Avenue 5-star Hazelton Hotel (site of the famed Riverboat Coffee House) is an excellent example of Bill's influence in the integration of the desired heritage elements.
GYRA was invited to participate in the creation of the Bloor-Yorkville Urban Design Guidelines, to which Bill provided his expertise in creating a set of guidelines for the enhancement and protection of historic buildings. Bill's descriptions of historic characteristics were written into the Guidelines. The Guidelines were later harmonized with the City's North Midtown Design Guidelines, and renamed "Toronto Urban Design Guidelines Bloor-Yorkville/North Midtown."
GYRA was also invited to participate in the creation of a Planning Framework & Implementation Strategy for the Bloor-Yorkville/North Midtown area. Once again, Bill provided his expertise in developing a plan "to illustrate a feasible long-term vision for future compatible development that would enhance and preserve the exceptional reputation and distinctive character of the entire Yorkville area." This definitive document will soon be enacted by the City as the "Bloor-Yorkville Secondary Plan."
Bill's introduction to Yorkville occurred in 1931 when he attended Crescent School. then situated on Asquith Avenue, with gym classes in the Yorkville Town Hall (now the site of Town Hall Square). He would recount fond memories of his student days at the University of Toronto. The Bloor-Yorkville Community recognized Bill's significant contributions and, it was with the greatest respect, that we considered Bill to be Yorkville's most significant heritage asset.
He was a cherished mentor and friend, who will be very sadly missed, and lovingly remembered.
My deepest condolences to Bill's beloved Rina, sons, and grand-children.
Gee Chung
GYRA former President
Don Citron
February 9, 2023
I enjoyed my time with Bill on the Board and admired his always thoughtful and meticulous discussions
My condolences to Rina and his family
Don Citron
Danielle Sweeney
February 9, 2023
I have many memories of Bill over the years - allowing us to run amok on a beautiful lawn in Moore Park, rocking out at Si´s concerts and sitting enjoying the stillness at Rock Lake.
His grace and kindness will be long remembered.
Thinking of you all x
Micah Lexier
February 9, 2023
What an amazing person. Such a generous and inquisitive mind. So honoured to have known him. Love to Rina and family.
Bob Ashby
February 9, 2023
I was fortunate to work with Bill at Shore and Moffat on Wellington Street in Toronto. Bill hired me in 1959, and was an inspiration during my long career in the Architectural profession.
denise gendron
February 9, 2023
Rina and Family please accept my condolences. Bill was a great mentor to me, I always valued his advise on heritage matters. Bill made time for me to discuss and provide advise on heritage preservation and the adaptive reuse of heritage structures.
His guidance was invaluable to me.
Denise Gendron
Barbara McPhail and Richard Unterman
February 9, 2023
Our sincerest condolences are extended to Rina and family. We first met Bill in the early 1980s as we started our careers in heritage conservation and he was the Chief Architect for the Toronto Historical Board. Throughout the years we consulted with Bill on heritage projects, kept in touch through the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals as well as many other social events and worked together on the William Greer Built Heritage Award jury for Heritage Toronto. Bill was always generous with his time, heritage advice and knowledge and we always looked forward to a good chinwag when we got together.
Marta O'Brien
February 9, 2023
My sincere condolences to Rina and all of Bill's loved ones.
Bill and I saw one another many times through our involvement with Heritage Toronto, and always had great conversations. We often exchanged emails with our thoughts about Toronto's historic architecture. He was a lovely man, always generous with his time and knowledge.
Showing 1 - 25 of 25 results
Memorial Events
for William GREER
Feb
21
Celebration of Life
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Royal Canadian Yacht Club (City Clubhouse)
ON
Funeral services provided by:
Humphrey Funeral Home A.W. Miles - Newbigging Chapel Limited1403 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON M4G 3A8