WILLIAM ARTHURS HEASLIP

WILLIAM ARTHURS HEASLIP C.M., LLD (HON) JULY 5, 1927 - MARCH 3, 2006. 78, died suddenly of a cerebral hemorrhage at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Florida, on March 3, 2006. Adored husband of Nona Macdonald, he is the cherished brother of Betty Drew-Brook (Bob) of Qualicum Beach, B.C. He was predeceased by his two other sisters, Alice Radford (Paul) and Doris Morris (Bert). He is uncle of Bruce Radford (Rosemary), Brenda Radford Million (Rob); the Morris children - Debra, Lee, Sheri, Bob, Bill and Brad - and of the Drew-Brooks - Alan, Neil and Paul. He and the late Richard Chater co-founded one of Canada's largest retail clothing conglomerates, Grafton Group Ltd. Bill retired as CEO and Chairman in 1992. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada and received an Honorary Doctorate from St. Francis Xavier University, N.S. His interest in education led him to create undergraduate ongoing scholarships for the following universities: Toronto, York, Western Ontario, Waterloo, Guelph, Prince Edward Island, Memorial, Manitoba and British Columbia. His many grand nieces and grand nephews will remember him for his financial assistance in achieving their higher education goals. At the University of Toronto, he established the Nona Macdonald Visitors Centre and the Macdonald Heaslip Walkway at Hart House Theater. At Ryerson University, Heaslip House for Continuing Education opened recently as did The Macdonald Heaslip Theatre at Sheridan Institute, Oakville. Other significant gifts have been made to Shaw Festival, Soulpepper Theatre, Toronto Symphony, Canadian Opera Company, Art Gallery of Ontario, Design Centre and Banff Centre for the Arts. He was a dedicated fundraiser and board member of CARE Canada and Canadian Liver Foundation. He made major gifts to United Way, Rotary Club and Hincks Institute. Hospitals that benefitted from his giving include: Sunnybrook, Women's College, St. Michael's and Toronto General. An avid golfer, he held club memberships at Rosedale, Toronto Hunt; and in Florida at The Oaks he scored a 77, one-less-his-age, this January. A skilled fly fisherman, he belonged to Ristigouche Salmon Club, N.B., and to the Caledon Mountain Trout Club, Ont. Other recreational clubs were Tadenac in Georgian Bay and Griffiths Island. Two highlights of a favourite sport, Ballooning, were soaring over The Alps and participating in the 200th Anniversary of Ballooning, starting from Place de la Concorde, Paris. His love of wine was enjoyed with the members of The Tastevin des Chevaliers and The Commanderie de Bordeaux societies. In the 1820's, the Heaslips immigrated to Ontario from County Wexford, Ireland. This Irish background may account for his convivial and generous nature. Unfortunately, the 'luck of the Irish' ran out when heart disease, prevalent in the family, became his problem in later years. Thanks to superb surgery, he sur vived two by-pass operations at Toronto General Hospital where he has been a decade-long patient of Dr. Douglas Wigle, his friend and cardiologist. Stricken suddenly at his Florida residence, he succumbed to a stroke. An organ donor at his death, he gave the ultimate gift - his liver so befitting a benefactor of the Canadian Liver Foundation. Bill Heaslip will be remembered always, by his wide-ranging coterie of loyal friends; by George and Joan Reynolds, by Carmelita and Danny Alcala and by his wife's family, the Macdonald clan. Family and friends are invited to celebrate his life on Monday, May 8, 2006 at Rosedale Golf Club, Toronto from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. If desired, a charitable donation may be made to any of the above-mentioned universities or to Theatre Museum Canada, 77 Bloor St. West, Ste. 1903, Toronto, Ont. M5S 1M2.