William Edward Sager

WILLIAM EDWARD (BILL) SAGER Bill passed away peacefully with his family at his side at the Toronto General Hospital, succumbing to liver failure after a short illness on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 in his 83rd year. Predeceased by his first wife Margaret (nee Teskey), Bill will be sadly missed by his best friend and loving wife Wilma (previously Gowland), his adored children Gordon (Mary) and Evelyn Marie (David Roberts) and by his grandchildren Heather, George and Jennifer Sager. He treasured his relationship with Wilma's children, Debbie Hynes and Jeff Gowland (Claire) and her grandchildren Leigh Sabourin (Troy) and Dana Gowland. He was a favourite to great-grandson Tristan Sabourin and will be fondly remembered by his brother Dr. Bob Sager and sisters, Marilyn Cairns (Don) and Marcia Horsfall (Bill) and nieces Carrie Anderson (Russell), Angie Horsfall, Andrea Moyer (Matt) and nephew Brian Cairns. A man of many interests and talents, Bill was first and foremost a Teacher. Retiring as a Professor Emeritus in 1987, Bill treasured his years as a Geography Professor at the Faculty of Education, University of Toronto. Only following retirement did he pursue his first love, watercolour painting. He became a valued member of the Toronto Watercolour Society and his many friends treasure his paintings copied to their yearly Christmas cards. Bill also taught courses for the Canadian Power Squadron and Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary and the friendships he made within these groups were very important to him. He deeply valued friends he made and new experiences which resulted from his membership in the Mimico Cruising Club, where he shouldered many responsibilities and had an opportunity to enjoy his beloved wooden sailboat, Njordr, as a racer and recreationally. Through the years, he expanded his interests in the history of the World Wars, rewriting his father's memoirs from WWI and going to France to trace the steps his father Elmer took as a young Machine Gunner on the outskirts of Arras. He was a longtime member of Humber Valley United Church and valued his associations there. Bill set high standards for himself and everyone else. His sense of humour, open-armed friendship, innate sense of fairness and loving exuberance will live on in the hearts of his family and friends. Friends may call at the Turner & Porter Yorke Chapel, 2357 Bloor St. W., Toronto, at Windermere, east of the Jane subway, from 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, March 4th. Funeral Service will be held at Humber Valley United Church, 76 Anglesey Blvd., Toronto on Friday, March 5, 2010 at 2 p.m. Private interment Park Lawn Cemetery. For those who wish, donations to the University Health Network or the Canadian Liver Foundation would be appreciated.