William Beesack

Our Dad passed away on the 16th of Deceber 2017, at the age of 79 after battling heart disease for 40 years! In fact, he was the oldest and longest standing member of the McTurtles club at McMaster, a group of individuals fighting heart disease through fitness and diet. In that regard, with our mother’s help, he was the Zen Master! Sadly, after Mom’s death last year he lost his coach and champion and slowly succumbed to congestive heart failure, shortly after moving out of the apartment they had shared for fifty years in Hamilton, Ontario.

Dad was a stalwart Hamiltonian, being born here on the 7th of August in 1938 to Doris and Thomas Beesack. He had an older brother named Jim, who predeceased him. Dad had known Mom (Toni Beesack), as a child though they had never gotten along. Fate had plans for Dad though. He wandered around a bit as a child, joined the military at 16 as a boy solider with the Signals Corps, was posted overseas to Egypt on a United Nations tour and was sent back home when he developed flat feet. That led to his release from the military and renewed his quest to find where he belonged.

He married Marlene first, a woman who he still spoke kindly of right to his last. However, he knew that their relationship wasn’t quite where he was supposed to be and they parted company which led to him revisiting his relationship with Toni, who by that time had two boys (Stephen Edward and Timothy David Day). With a full heart he married Toni and went about the business of creating a family with a loving hand. Shortly after their marriage a third son, Craig Alexander, came along.

Dad’s career, for the most part, was spent at Dofasco where he worked with some great folks who understood his quirky love of books. An avid reader, Dad would take in a book to read every day during lunch. He recalled, with a smile, how his colleagues would often go and move the bookmark backwards before lunch, without Dad knowing. At lunch time he’d go and get his sandwich, settle in with his book and begin reading. Sometimes he’d last quite a few pages before he’d realize he had already read that part!

In spite of Dad’s troubling heart condition, he was competitive by nature. He enjoyed golf and five-pin bowling, both sports in which he excelled. However, his competitive spirit was not restricted to league played activities. Playing crokinole with his grandkids (Meghan, Emily Ann, Kyle, Caleigh or Emily Margaret) was always a cut-throat activity with no favours shown for age. This created wonderful memories around the pool for everyone. Dad also took immense pleasure in watching competitive activities and was hugely proud of his grandson, Daniel, drawing great joy from watching Daniel’s hockey games. Sadly, Dad will not have the pleasure of sharing books and talking about history with his newest grandson, Paul.

Being the epicentre of love is something that came naturally to Dad and, through his gentle ways, he and Mom attracted a circle of loving friends who were just like family. Matt and Mary Farrell were constant friends who watched out for Dad after Mom’s death. So were Pete and Gerry Garrett who lived above Dad. Pete was always there for Dad on his many trips to the hospital, especially in the last year of his life. Bernie and Dora Suriani shared their three girls Maria, Kayla and Emily, creating deeply fond memories for Mom and Dad of the sports activities they attended to watch the girls play. Ida and Trent Harrison took Dad into their hearts and their home, especially after Mom died, and gave him that sense of feeling loved. Karen and Lori, along with their mother Sally, and their spouses and kids always referred to Dad as “Uncle Bill”. They gave him that sense that he belonged in their lives.

Belonging was important to Dad. Having a family and a close circle of friends brought meaning into his life. So did service to others. He expressed this through his membership and fraternity as a Freemason. He was a member of Seymour Lodge No.272 in Ancaster under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario. He was proud to serve his brethren for years as their “Outer Guard”. He was equally proud to have both his son, Tim, and his grandson, Kyle, as brothers of the Lodge.

Lastly, his two daughters-in-law, Heather and Linda. These two women brought into Dad’s life the feminine balance that a home full of boys missed. He loved the way he was spoiled, looked after and doted upon whenever Heather or Linda were around. That was the nature of his love and theirs.

A memorial service will be held at Marlatt Funeral Home, 615 Main Street East in Hamilton, on the 22nd of December at 11:00 a.m. In his memory, please feel free to donate to either the Heart and Stroke Foundation, or Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice.