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Douglas McLaren Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Douglas McLaren
31 Entries
john & annette catterall
January 21, 2012
thought of you on your birthday,miss you
January 20, 2012
Happy birthday Douglas. May your indomitable spirit live on through your family and be kept alive by those whose lives you touched!
Alison
January 18, 2012
Thinking of Douglas today... RIP and miss him dearly.
Alison & Di
January 18, 2012
thinking of you today...xoxo s&a&t
Alison McKinney
June 20, 2011
Thought of you yesterday, guys. Miss your Dad a lot too.
Alison & Di
June 20, 2011
Thinking of you on Father's Day. We miss you Poppy. xo Babu, Taggy & Andrew
Jill Pert
June 5, 2011
Douglas was, first of all, a great friend of my father, John, when they were at George Brown College. (Dad died here in England in 1987).
For just over a year, I, too, worked with Douglas, setting up the rather short-lived! Music Department at the college.
Since returning to the UK to pursue my singing career, Douglas kept in touch with us (my mother Helen returned here to live with me in 1988). Every Christmas without fail, the 'phone would ring, and it would be Douglas calling to catch up with all our news.
I shall forever be grateful for the fact that, in May 2009 I returned to Toronto to sing with the Symphony. Douglas and I met at the Royal York for lunch, then went for a drive thought the city. He'd also purchased a ticket for one of my perfomances at Roy Thompson......not just any ticket, but front and centre....right at my feet!!!!!! How wonderful to see him there, tears in his eyes as we gave forth with all those 'Last Night of the Proms' 'roof-raisers'...Jerusalem, Land of Hope and Glory etc.
I didn't know, of course, that that would be the last time I would see him.....but it is a fantastic way to remember a wonderful friend and one of this world's true gentlemen.
My mother and I send our fond remembrances to Samantha and her family.
Tony and Nancy Yurkin
March 11, 2011
We as well met Douglas on our Cuban vacation in 2001.
John & Annette,Tony & I, along with Janet & Faizul, were on the same flight together. From the time we met at the orientation meeting, we all became fast friends. Douglas was never at a loss for words and was always up for an adventure, exemplified by our pictures of his scuba lessons, famous massages and his famous speedo bathing suit. We met each evening for our suppers together,and had the greatest of times. I will remember him at the piano in the lobby, singing "Nancy with the laughing face". Douglas always drew a crowd and entertained us all with his stories.
In his quiet times, he shared his thoughts of his beloved wife, Merle, whom he had sadly lost to cancer.He also would speak so highly of his daughter, Samantha and all her accomplishments. However, once Taggart was born, there was no greater a grandparent,(other than us of course).
He was so proud and told us of Taggart's art work and how well he was doing in school.
Douglas will be missed by all who's lives he touched and he will always have a place in our hearts.
I am sure he is smiling down at all of us right now, while holding Merle in his arms.
Nancy and Tony Yurkin
Nancy Yurkin
March 11, 2011
Nancy Yurkin
March 11, 2011
Nancy Yurkin
March 11, 2011
Nancy Yurkin
March 11, 2011
Nancy Yurkin
March 11, 2011
Nancy Yurkin
March 11, 2011
Nancy Yurkin
March 11, 2011
Norman Hunter
March 10, 2011
I first met Doug in 1957 when I was 17 years old. I was attending the Provincial Institute of Trades as an apprentice and Doug was my teacher. We formed a strong bond and friendship that lasted all these years. Doug was the best man at our wedding and Maureen and I were guests at Doug and Meryl's wedding. I retired in 1994 as the Principal of a High School in the City of York and guess who spoke at my retirement? Doug McLaren. Doug inspired me to become a teacher and in fact arranged for me to be his supply teacher for a few days to give me an idea of what to expect in teaching as a career. I was hooked. With Doug's encouragement and Maureen's support and understanding I became a success in life. Other than my wife, Maureen, there were two people who assisted me on the road to success that I could never repay. Doug McLaren was one of those people. Unfortunately, there will be hundreds of Doug's former students who will not know of his passing as they are scattered all over the Province of Ontario and as students we did not always keep in touch.
I too was born in Glasgow ,Scotland and I am very proud to state that I am very fortunate to have listened to the advice that this "canny" Scotsman, whom I met many years ago, gave me. He was very proud to be associated with the City and Guilds of England and being a bricklayer & stone mason of the highest skill level and greatly admired the craft.
Maureen and I will miss Doug very much and I know I will never forget him.
We look forward to attending the memorial in June and to seeing Sam and her family.
Norm and Maureen Hunter
carla Caplan
February 25, 2011
Doug, when you first saw me in my postie uniform, you asked me if I knew someone and I showed you my phone with this person's name listed first. We then figured out that decades earlier, this fellow went to New Zealand on a ticket booked by your wife, Merle and that decades before that, this fellow was in your boy scout troop--our paths crossed many years before we finally met at the beach. I will miss our long walks, interesting discussions and your sage advice. I know you are once again walking with Flo and Saygi. Please kiss the old girls for me. We miss you.
carla and trucker
Siva Kumar
February 25, 2011
Joyce & I are deeply saddened to hear the loss of Douglas. We met Douglas over 40 years ago. He was always a happy man with a sense of humor and had a charm. It was always a pleasure to talk to him. Although no words can really help to ease the loss you bear, just know Samantha that you Andrew and Taggart are very close in every thought and prayer. Please accept our heartfelt sympathy on the passing of Douglas. We will cherish the memories of the times we spent with Douglas. XO
Annette & John Catterall
February 24, 2011
We met Douglas in Cuba in 2001 and became friends. Gentlemen like Douglas are few; we will miss him ; may he rest in peace. Knowing Douglas he would say:
"I`d like the memory of me to be a happy one
I`d like to leave an afterglow of smiles when the day is done.
I`d like to leave an echo...whispering softly down the way of happy times, laughing times,bright and sunny days.
I`d like the tears of those who grieve to dry before the sun of happy memories that I leave behind when the day is done"
lana McCarthy
February 23, 2011
Loved your stories, loved your no nonsense politics, loved your sense of humour. I will miss you my friend.
aerin barnes
February 23, 2011
doug, i will always remember your zest for life and your charm, you will be missed but never forgotten. xo
Sam McLaren
February 22, 2011
Sam McLaren
February 22, 2011
Sam McLaren
February 22, 2011
Sheri Monk
February 22, 2011
The photos of your dad depict EXACTLY the man I saw so often at Cherry beach with the Georgia peach. I loved my laughs with Doug and loved it when he shed a tear over some story I regaled him with about the "wee boy". There is a void at the beach that will be felt by many!
Farewell to a kind and loving man with a spirit and passion that will be remembered forever!!
xo
Alison McKinney
February 21, 2011
Douglas... What a fantastic, loyal, and sensitive friend we have all lost! A true character, and 'raconteur extrodinaire' for sure.
Will miss him so much... our dog walks in various locales, our long late-night 'marathon' conversations talking politics, etc., and solving all the problems of the world, lol, story-telling and jokes, 'corny' old Scots sayings, and lovely dinners together with Rob and the rest of our family.
Still in shock a bit and so sad after hearing the news last week. So many great memories to treasure forever though, will never forget him... just would have loved to have been able to have one more visit and talk :(
Condolences to Sam, Andrew and Taggart. Once the dust all settles, look forward to the Memorial at Cherry to celebrate his wonderful life the way he would have wanted us all too... our sympathies and condolences,
Alison McKinney and Di Brown
Patrick Brien
February 20, 2011
Celebrating a life well lived. We will cherish the memories forever.
February 18, 2011
February 16, 2011
I will miss my friend and all the time we spent together walking the dogs.
carla caplan
February 16, 2011
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