Wilfrid George Woodcock P. Eng, LL.B.

Born in Napanee, Ontario on July 12, 1931, Wilf was the first child of Robert and Gertude (nee Price). The family moved to Peterborough, Ontario in 1940 where Wilf graduated from Peterborough Collegiate Institute in 1949 as class valedictorian. Following that, he graduated from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario as the medalist in the Science class of 1953 with a degree in Civil Engineering.

After university, he moved to the Toronto area and began a career in the heating, refrigeration and air conditioning industry that would define his working life. He held various technical and commercial roles at Frigidaire and Carrier between 1953 to 1960. Wilf started his own business, AllTemp Products Ltd., in 1960 and operated it until 1971 when he sold it to his employees. He joined Beaver Engineering as Vice President of Marketing and Manufacturing until 1972.

Active in the industry, Wilf held roles in several industry associations such as President of the Ontario chapter of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), Vice President of the Canadian Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Association (CRACA), and a Director of the Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI).

Between 1972 and 1975, Wilf attended Osgoode Hall Law School at York University earning his LL.B. degree. During this time, he also lectured part-time at Humber College in Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning. After being called to the bar, he practiced law with Lang, Michener, Cranston, Farquharson and Wright in Toronto until 1980.

In 1980, he rejoined the air conditioning industry with KeepRite Inc. He held several executive positions at the Vice President level in marketing and business development and was a member of the Board of Directors. During these years, he was fortunate to be able to travel extensively around the world, establishing business relationships and friendships in countries such as China and Hong Kong, Thailand, Nigeria, Egypt, Australia and the UK. In 1988, he moved to KeepRite’s parent company, Inter-City Products Corporation as Vice President, Legal and Corporate Development where he remained until his retirement.

He married Marie Ann (Peggy) Hutcheon in Gananoque, Ontario in July 1954 and moved to Markham, Ontario in 1956 to start a family. Wilf was an active member of the Masonic Lodge while living there, eventually serving as Worshipful Master of Markham Union #87. He and other Masters from Toronto East District Freemasons became lifetime friends through the “Vikings” group. Wilf enjoyed weekends year-round at the cottage on Salerno Lake, snowmobiling in the winter and fishing in the summer. In 1980, the family moved to Brantford, Ontario where he made many lasting friendships through the Brantford Golf and Country Club and the Thursday Think Tank (TTT) luncheon group.

Diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in 1994, Wilf continued to thrive until challenged by progressive Alzheimer’s. He moved to Guelph, Ontario in 2019 to be closer to family.

Wilf was the loving father of children Kathryn (Miguel), Leslie (Mikel, d.2010), David (Christine), grandchildren Devon (Thomas), Drew, Ruby, Julia, Natalie, and Matthew, and great-grandchildren Everett and Maeve. He is pre-deceased by his wife Peggy (d.2021) and his brother Murray (d.2009). He is survived by his sisters Dorothy and Barbara and sister-in-law Gwen.

The family sincerely thanks the staff and residents at Chartwell Royal on Gordon for their friendship, compassion and support.

If desired, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to charities of your choice.