William Richard Bennett HERRIDGE

1932 - 2024

Bill Herridge was born in Ottawa in 1932. He was predeceased by his father, William Duncan Herridge, by his mother Mildred Marion Bennett, and by his uncle R.B. Bennett, Prime Minister of Canada, 1930-1935. Bill was also predeceased by his wife, lover, and best friend of sixty-two years, the former Ruth McKinley. He is survived by their daughters Elizabeth, Margaret, (and her husband, Robert Stewart), and Catherine (and her husband, John Hayes), and five grandchildren (Sarah, Graeme and Matthew Stewart and James and Peter Hayes) whom he loved dearly. Bill was educated at Harvard College and Harvard Law School. Active in Harvard alumni activities, Bill was a first Vice-President of the Harvard Law School Association. Called to the Bar of Ontario in 1958, Bill practiced law in Toronto for forty-one years, at the time of his retirement with Miller Thomson. Bill's practice included appearances before the Supreme Court of Canada, and many other courts and administrative tribunals. Bill was created a Queen's Counsel in 1971. Active in Church and community, Bill was an elder of Rosedale Presbyterian Church, and served as a member of the Committee on Church Doctrine, and as a member of the Trustee Board, of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. He was a dedicated supporter and patron of the arts and for many years served as a member of the Board of Directors of the National Ballet, became a Vice-Chairman, and at the time of his death was a member of the National Ballet's Honorary Board. He was Chairman of the Sir William Campbell Foundation, and a long-time director and Vice-President of the Conservation Foundation of Greater Toronto. He was a past president and director of the North Rosedale Residents' Association, and at the time of his death was honored as Director Emeritus. For thirty-three years Bill and Ruth took great joy in sailing their Shark sailboat out of the R.C.Y.C. Another nautical love of Bill's life was his canoe, which he paddled from age eight, until old age made Bill reluctantly put away his paddle. Visitation is Friday, August 16, 2024, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Humphrey Funeral Home A.W. Miles – Newbigging Chapel Ltd., 1403 Bayview Ave (South of Davisville), East York, ON M4G 3A8. A funeral service will be held at Rosedale Presbyterian Church, 129 Mt. Pleasant Road, Toronto, ON M4W 2S3 on Saturday August 17 at 11 a.m. A reception will follow from noon to 2 p.m. at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made either to Presbyterian World Service & Development or to the National Ballet of Canada. Condolences may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com.