Peter Woodruff

Peter was a man fascinated by the world around him. He sought meaning from the wonders of the universe. He believed that one could find beauty and value in every aspect of life as long as one took the time to search for it. He eagerly offered his vast knowledge to willing ears and eager minds as it was his nature to draw in others and imbue them with his boundless enthusiasm for life and all living things.

Our father’s story begins in London, England, where he was born in 1947 during a season remembered for its historic heat and rain. As he grew so did his family. He was first an older brother to his sister Myra, and then, after a journey across the Atlantic to their sister Ailsa. In North America, Dad found himself moving about frequently as a child until his family finally settled in Vermont when he was a young teenager. After he graduated from the University of Vermont, he moved to Montreal to attend McGill University and then to teach at Champlain-Saint-Lambert where he met Susan, his life partner for almost fifty years.

Our parents built a life in Saint-Lambert, raising us, their sons, Andrew and Brian. The family home was and still is a gathering place for friends and for family as it has been for more than forty years.

Dad’s penchant for calm wisdom and engaging conversation is remembered by students and faculty who were fortunate enough to encounter him during his career as a Biology and Liberal Arts teacher. Literally thousands of students passed through his classroom, many of whom remember him years after graduation for his excellent teaching abilities and for his quick wit.

Dad embraced his creative side through art, photography, and writing. He was actively engaged in the community supporting organisations such as Our Harbour and the South Shore Life Long Learning group. He was a member of several other community organizations as well.

Dad was a wonderful husband, father, father-in-law and grandfather. He loved his grandsons Logan, William and Alex. His presence and legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of all those he connected with over his lifetime. He leaves a huge void in the lives of his family, Susan, Andrew and Brian, their respective spouses, Miya and Lesley, and their children, as well as his sisters, nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.

It is not easy to lose someone who is such a part of life’s grand experience but if there is one thing that can be said it is that he lived a life as grand as he dreamed and loved and was loved deeply.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to the MUHC where he received excellent care, to Our Harbour, where he served as a valuable volunteer, or to the Ryan McMartin Fund at the Montreal Children’s Hospital.

There will be a celebration of Dad’s life on September 7, details to follow. For more information contact [email protected]