BEARD, William
Peacefully, surrounded by family, Dad slipped away in the early morning hours of Feb. 4, 2021 after a brief illness. Dad was born July 24, 1929 in South Porcupine to Jack and Henrietta Beard who emigrated from Redruth England. He grew up on the Dome Mine Extension and had many stories of the exploits and the rich cultural exposure that was so common in the early mining days. After high school, Dad worked at the Dome Mine for a year to earn the money he needed to put himself through Normal School as Teacher’s College was then called. He started his teaching career in Geraldton in 1950. After one long cold winter there, he moved to Kirkland Lake, and taught at Queen Elizabeth and Kirkland West Public Schools. He started teaching at KLCVI in 1959, and became Vice Principal in 1972, and then Principal in 1982 until his retirement in 1985. Dad was very involved in his community, and was Branch President of the OSSTF, a member and past chair of the Civil Advisory Committee for Northern College of Applied Arts and Technology, a trustee of the Kirkland and District Hospital Board from 1980 until 1995 acting as Chairman of the Board and President of the Hospital Corporation from 1984-1987. He was a member of the Ontario Hospital Association serving on the Human Resources Committee and as acting as a Board Mentor. He was Chairman of the Kirkland and District Health Planning Committee, and the region 11 representative for the Ontario Hospitals Association, finally acting as a member of the Central Bargaining Review Committee from 1987-88. Dad had a very strong faith. He was an elder with Trinity United Church serving as Chairman of the Pastoral Relations and Sacraments Committee. He was a member of the Doric Lodge No. 623 and served as its Worshipful Master in 1960-61. He was District Deputy Grand Master of Temiskaming District in 1979. He was Past President of the Silver and Gold Scottish Rite Club, a member of the North Bay Valley of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry and the Lodge of Perfection (1965), Rose Croix Chapter (1977), Moore Sovereign Consistory, Hamilton (1977). In 1985 he was coroneted Honorary Inspector General 330, Supreme Council of Canada in Hamilton. Peter Matijek has always been a special friend and brother in the lodge, and he now honors Dad by wearing his regalia. Dad met Mom skating one evening in 1952 at the old Kirkland Lake arena. They were married in 1956 and together until we lost Mom in 2015. We have many memories of exciting times as kids. Dad was always taking courses to work on his degree, and so for many summers, we would be packed up and moved to a new city. We had many adventures while we were away meeting new friends and sight-seeing when Dad had some time to spare from his studies. We went to Story Book Gardens in London, Casa Loma in Toronto, and were terrified of the massive limestone jails in Kingston. We lived in a little cottage in North Bay for one summer and were right on the beach. It was a dream for us as kids. Dad loved carpentry, and helped each of us with our homes, passing along his skills and words of wisdom. After retirement he looked forward to hunting with his party on Manitoulin Island. Dad was so very proud of all of us and especially his grandchildren. He supported and encouraged them in their education, and as they started their careers. Bill was predeceased by his wife Dorothy (Teague), his parents Jack and Henrietta Beard, his sister Gwendolyn (Lynn) McGinn (Lawrence), his brothers Harold (Bernice), and John (Joan), his sister in law Mary McLenaghan (Robert), and brother in law Leonard Teague. Bill is survived by Sandra Dal Pai (Carlo) and their children Amelia (Stasun Hebert) and Anthony (Robert Chant), Nancy O’Connor (Sean) and their children Lauren (Josh Byer), Kristyn, and Neil (Rachel Edwards), Marjorie Harvey (Paul) and their children Christopher and Abbey, and his brother in law Norman Teague (late Shirley) as well as many nieces and nephews. Dad spent the last few years at Teck Pioneer Residence. He so looked forward to the games and activities, and was competitive and proud to say when he won. He had many friends there, and they also share his loss. We feel so fortunate to have had such a wonderful staff who Dad truly considered his second family. He often said he loved them all. Ever a leader, Dad was president of the resident’s committee, and this kept his mind busy. We are thankful for 91 wonderful years. “Grief never ends, but it changes. It’s a passage, not a place to stay. Grief is not a sign of weakness, nor a lack of faith. It is the price of love.” In Dad’s honor, donations to either the Teck Pioneer Enrichment Fund, or the Kirkland and District Hospital Foundation would be sincerely appreciated.
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