Ian McQuaid

With deep sadness we announce the passing of our beloved father on Tues. Feb. 1, 2022. Ian passed away peacefully at 98 with his daughters by his side. He joined his late wife Margaret (nee Boyle) of 60 years and his late son Bradley John. Born in Glasgow, Scotland to John McQuaid of Trillick, Northern Ireland, and mother, Christina-Ann Finlayson of Plockton, Scotland, Ian is predeceased by his siblings, Ritchie, Isobel, Eric, and William. He leaves behind his daughter Andrena (Andy) and son-in-law Heinrich Steffens, daughter Alanna (Lana), daughter-in-law Patricia (nee Cook), four granddaughters; Meghan, Kaitlan, Madelyn, Samantha (Andrew), great grandsons; Dylan, Aiden, and Adrien, and many loved nieces and nephews. In 1947, after 5-years service with the Royal Navy during WW2, Ian emigrated from Glasgow to Toronto where he met Margaret, a recent immigrant with her mother (Elizabeth Boyle) form Glasgow. He was a natural born entertainer who could sing, dance, and make a room full of people laugh. He was very well known to new immigrants arriving from Scotland with dances he ran throughout the 1950s. He had a love for boxing and Rocky Marciano and Sammy Luftspring were amongst his friends. A successful comedian disc jockey and emcee for 40 years, an entrepreneur, a business owner, and an artist during his retirement, Ian could do, and did, it all. He was well known on Queen St. in Toronto’s Beaches area for his one-of-a-kind mirrors. He believed a stranger was only a friend he hadn’t met yet and would strike up a conversation with anyone, anywhere, at anytime. A loving husband and doting father to his children as well as a wonderful, fun-loving grandfather, Ian was kind and generous, loved and respected by many and a hero to his family. He filled our world with laughter and music, and he was the rock we all leaned on. His motto was “It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice.” Daddy, as the song goes … “We’ll meet again, don’t know where, don’t know when, but I know we’ll meet again some sunny day.”The family is so grateful for the wonderful care given to Ian over the last 16 months while a resident at Sunnybrook Veteran’s Centre. Due to COVID, a private family funeral will be held.

Ian will be missed beyond words.