1928-2018
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the unexpected, yet peaceful passing of Raymond Brookes Dwarte at North York General Hospital on October 17th, 2018, at the tender age of 90. Son of Margeret Amelia and Joesph Martin and sibling to Edgar, Victor and Josephine; all of whom he is now reunited with. Raymond (Papa Bear) is survived by his wife Else and sons Kevin (Celeste) and Darryl (Roselle).
Born on September 16, 1928 in Dharwad, India. Raymond graduated at the age of 20 from the University of Bombay, with Honors in the fields of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. He was invited to work at a large manufacturing company in India as a junior engineer. In 1951 he was posted to Scotland to work in the manufacture of electric pumps. This was a very different area of work than he had studied at the University, yet for the next four years he worked hard in the factory foundry, pattern shop and machine shops, learning how to manage a factory from the ground up. At the same time he continued his studies, receiving The National Certificate in Production Engineering. In 1954 he returned to India where the company’s work now had shifted to casting engine blocks for jeeps. Raymond used the knowledge he gained in Scotland to help with this new endeavor. After 8 years with the company, he left, deciding to immigrate to Canada!
Upon arrival in Canada, Raymond looking for a job, knocked on doors and eventually secured a position with a company in the manufacture of refrigeration machinery . After 2 years he qualified as a professional engineer (P.Eng). He followed that with a course in the burgeoning field of computer programming, his final marks being the highest in Canada. From that point, he never looked back. He started working for Confederation Life, which had one of the only two computers operating in Canada at the time ( IBM had the other). Raymond's career had him traveling world-wide preparing and delivering lectures in London, Paris, Rome and Melbourne as well as in Toronto. He also worked for many years at Massey- Ferguson which included a 5-year stint in Australia, where he travelled extensively with his sons.
Raymond worked well into his 70’s and enjoyed every moment of his working life.
Raymond had a passion for travel and had visited over 35 countries in his lifetime. He combined that love with another: photography. Some of his best memories were of his travels through Great Britain and Europe when he was in his 20’s, on a motorcycle that he received as a gift from his father. In the last 30 years, he found a new passion: Contests! Raymond would enter all that he could find, belonging to many contest groups. He loved to share his winnings with family and friends alike. His winnings were many, but perhaps the highlight was a new Ford pick-up truck which he promptly donated to aid in the clean-up at Ground Zero after 911.
Raymond was a humble gentleman who always wore a smile on his face. He had only one mood: good! He had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh, it seemed that he never let anything get him down. He loved people and enjoyed many friendships with people from all walks of life. He loved to dance and listen to music from all corners of the world. Up to the end, Raymond loved driving his bright yellow car to attend fitness classes and other events at numerous seniors centers as well as attending the theater several times weekly. He was thoughtful and always enjoyed bringing a small “treat” to those he knew, whether it was a newspaper article or prize he had won. “ It’s the thought that counts”, he would often say to others
He will be dearly missed by all whom had the good fortune of crossing paths with him. In the contest of life, we know he has won the best prize of all !
As he loved to joke: “Everybody Loves Raymond”
Rest in Peace
A Celebration of Life will be held on November 3, 2-5pm, a mass to follow, at St. Bonaventure’s Church, Franciscan Room.
1300 Leslie Street, Toronto, M3C2K9
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