Sydney Henry Thomas Pike

Died peacefully at home, surrounded by family members, on Sunday, November 30, 2008, at the age of 88, after a short illness with cancer. Loving husband of Vilbjorg, his wife of 62 years, sister to Eileen MacDonald in England, father to Howard (Evelyn), Alan, Margaret (Ilan), Christine and Tom (Maria), and grandfather to 12 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Sydney was born in England in February 1920 and was a volunteer Navy reservist, when at age 19 he joined the British Navy at the beginning of the Second World War. Between 1939 and 1946 he served in four theatres of war: the North Sea, Atlantic, Mediterranean and Indian Oceans. During this time he distinguished himself by saving a fellow sailor from drowning, at some risk to himself. He met his future wife Vilbjorg when his ship was stationed in the Faroe Islands. Immediately after the war they married and settled in England, where Syd worked and completed his studies in accounting. In 1953 the family immigrated to Canada and settled in Toronto, where Syd worked for a major contracting firm until retirement, achieving the positions of Director and Secretary Treasurer. Sydney was a long time member of The Church of the Incarnation, North York (formerly All Souls Anglican Church).

Funeral Service will be held at The Church of the Incarnation, 15 Clairtrell Road, North York, on Thursday December 4, 2008 at 1:00 pm.