Don McCormick

Don McCormick, 75, passed away in Ottawa following a valiant fight with cancer. His gregarious personality and sharp wit will be remembered lovingly by his soul mate and travel companion, Sue Rennie; Bernadette (née VanderVoort), his former wife and mother to their five children: Matthew (Ima), Anna, Mary, Peter (Patricia Bender), and Michael (Megan MacPhail). He is survived by his brother John (Louise Lalonde), cousin Theresa McKernan (Brian), nephew Gregg (Madill), his stepchildren Steven Rennie (Joanna Smith), and Samantha Henderson (Al), and grandchildren Noah, Gabriela, Cristina, Sofia, Austin and Caleb. Don was pre-deceased by his parents, Michael and Kathleen (née Whitney), and his sister Pauline (Grant Madill). A proud Cape Bretoner born in East Bay, N.S., Don graduated from St. Francis Xavier University in 1959.Don had a lengthy and prestigious career as a popular (English and Special Education) teacher and administrator at several Ottawa public high schools, and then inspired the next generation of teachers in the faculty of education at the University of Ottawa. Always the life of the party, he acted for Tara Players Theatre Company. As the son of the founder of Little League in Canada, he was a proud southpaw and devoted Boston Red Sox fan. After retiring, Don was an active member of the James Joyce Society (and lover of Guinness), trivia master at local Irish Pubs and world traveller. Don lived a full and vibrant life. He was loved by many and positively impacted those who crossed his path. He is remembered for his openness, wry sense of humour, booming voice and bold laughter, his inquisitiveness and interest in people and culture, his thirst for knowledge and skill in sharing it, as well as his proficiency in storytelling and sharp memory. Don was a pensive (leftist) intellect, generous yet wisely frugal, a friend to birds, an avid reader of poetry and connoisseur of politics and current events, and an active sportsman (baseball pitcher and hockey player, marathon runner) who even rode his bicycle to some of his cancer treatments. A natural teacher until his last breath, taken while listening to an Irish ditty sung by a friend, Don exemplified pride and dignity, courage, incessant optimism, strength, persistence, generosity, and graciousness toward his caregivers and loved ones. The family extends gratitude to his oncology team at the Ottawa General Hospital, and medical staff and volunteers at Bruyere Continuing Care. The family will receive friends at McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home, 1411 Hunt Club Road (at Albion Road) on Sunday, October 19, 2014 after 1:30 pm, followed by a service to honour and celebrate Don's life at 3:30pm in the Chapel. In lieu of flowers, in memoriam donations to the Canadian Cancer Society or the Bruyere Foundation would be greatly appreciated.