James Davidson Lang

In his 85th year, Jim passed away peacefully at Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket, Ontario. Family members and a supportive health services team were by his side. He led a rich and fulfilling life; as much appreciated by himself as by everyone who had the good opportunity to make his acquaintance.

Born and raised in Toronto, Jim was the first of three generations of Langs to attend UTS (graduate of 1947). He is probably best remembered from his high school years as a bright, energetic person with a competitive athletic streak. After a brief stint at the University of Toronto he left school to work for the family company, Lang Bros. Specialty, founded by his father and uncle in 1925. At the time, they manufactured lamps and other small electrical appliances for the growing market at the end of the war. When his older brother, Gord, also joined the company they expanded into two major divisions: Samson- Dominion Ltd. manufacturing electrical appliances; and Connecticut Chemical Ltd., a custom filler of a wide range of consumer products. They built a large new plant in East York and grew the business to many times its original size, eventually going public with it in the early 70s. Today it has become the huge Canadian success story, CCL Industries.

On the domestic front, Jim married a beautiful Toronto girl named Joan Worth on May 19, 1950. They bought a house in North York, close to Joan’s childhood home in Hogg’s Hollow, and started to build a family along with a business. Three children (David, John, and Susan) were born in rapid succession from 1951 to 1956. Despite the devastating losses of his wife in 1998, and his beloved daughter in 2009, the tightly knit family has grown to include 5 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.

Jim’s career path took an unexpected turn after he purchased a farm property in the late 60s to use as a weekend retreat. He developed a great interest in agriculture and saw a good investment opportunity in farm land north of the city. He eventually assembled about 750 acres and developed a farm business plan with his sons. The resulting operation, J L Farms, gradually came to specialize in the production of purebred Simmental cattle. The cattle won awards at major livestock shows across the continent, and garnered sales around the world. As has been said, “As a farmer, he was out standing in his field!”

With his financial affairs under control, Jim stepped back from his businesses in the late 70s to indulge his twin passions of golf and family. He and Joan split their time between the farm and their house in Florida. He maintained memberships at Rosedale and Beacon Hall golf clubs in Ontario, and at John’s Island and Bent Pine golf clubs in Florida. He took great pleasure in entertaining the growing mob of grandchildren at every occasion. Tragically, his wife died of a cancer related illness in 1998. His life went into a steep decline. By good fortune, a mutual friend introduced him to an attractive widow named Valerie Haughton. She provided the spark that gave him a new energy for life. They were married and lived together in Aurora until his death. His life was further enriched during this period by the care and attention shown to him by Val’s daughter, Robyn, and the rest of Val’s grandchildren.

Jim will be lovingly remembered by all of his friends and family for his kindness, generosity, and loyalty. Out of respect for his wishes, a private service will be held following cremation at the Thompson Funeral Home in Aurora. Online condolences may be posted on the website at www.thompsonfh-aurora.com.