Kevin Reynolds

In his 99th year, Kevin has now completed the back nine of his life, passing peacefully in the early hours of June 8, surrounded by his three daughters.

He was born on October 4, 1927, and spent his life in Montreal. Following undergraduate studies at Loyola, he obtained his law degree from McGill and went on to a distinguished legal career at Montreal Trust.

Kevin’s athletic prowess was considerable. Hockey was his first sport, where, as a sometimes scrappy defenseman, he often played on several teams in the same season. During his time at McGill, his talents did not go unnoticed and he was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks. He chose law instead, though the ice never entirely left him: for years his golf drive bore a suspicious resemblance to a slap shot.

Following his hockey days, Kevin became an accomplished golfer and tennis player. A member at Lemon Bay, Royal Montreal and Mount Bruno, he shot his age on many an occasion, and over the course of his life played more than 210 different courses. His tennis was played at the Hillside and the Boca Grande Club, where his slice was a weapon he deployed with considerable satisfaction.

Alongside his love of sport ran an equally genuine joie de vivre. Kevin loved time with his many friends, especially a good party, and was often heard saying “Champagne for the House!” Many a long lunch was shared with his pals at the Swamp Club and in later years at Chez Delmo, where the conversation was always as good as the company.

Kevin gave generously of his time to his community. He was particularly proud of his leadership of the Lake Tremblant Property Owners Association and his work with the Saint Mary’s Hospital Foundation. He served on the board of the Boca Grande Club in its early days, playing a meaningful role in resolving the conflict with the developer that shaped the Club’s future. A devoted member of the Ascension of our Lord Church, he was rarely absent from Sunday Mass.

Early in their marriage, Kevin and Ann built their home on Lake Tremblant, and it became what such homes always become: the heart of the family across four generations. Children, then spouses, then grandchildren and great-grandchildren filled it across the decades. The same spirit extended to their home on Gasparilla Island, where the Gulf of Mexico stretched to the horizon and evenings were marked by a serene and faithful vigil for the green flash at sunset. Ann and Kevin were world travellers too, with a special fondness for biking trips and Eco-cruises. Kevin spent this past winter on Gasparilla in the company of his children and their spouses.

As the patriarch, Kevin led his household with a quiet and understated authority but was always ready with a joke. He was stoic, principled, a man of high integrity who slept with an easy conscience. Those who knew him best will carry a particular image: Kevin at the end of a family dinner, rising theatrically from his chair and spontaneously delivering an erudite oration in the most precise and eloquent English.

Kevin was predeceased by his beloved wife of 68 years, Ann and by his siblings Mavis, Marion and Freddy. He is survived by his four children, Rosalind (Tom), Rod (Nancy), Allyson (Elvio) and Blythe (Glynne), by 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren, all of whom have fond memories of their special time with him.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 16th from 4 to 7 pm at the Côte-des-Neiges Funeral Complex, 4525 Chemin Côte-des-Neiges. The funeral service will be held at the Ascension of Our Lord Church in Westmount on Wednesday, June 17th at 10 am. A reception will follow. Donations may be made to the Andy McGillis Fund at Loyola High School. https://bit.ly/4ehxjdd