Obituary for
William Ray Conrod
Conrod, William (Papa)
Bill was a kind, caring and genuine human being, who lived life to the fullest and left a positive
impression on all. Creative, intelligent, and curious, he devoted his life to education, the
environment, the arts, his family, his lifelong friends and his community. A man of humility and
integrity, Bill treated every person he met as an equal, never judging always caring. Bill was
born in 1941 in Toronto, Ontario and raised in Montreal’s Snowden neighbourhood. In 1963 he
married the love of his life, Jill Foote (Conrod) and together they lived a life of happiness and
adventure. He was a devoted loving father to his four children, active in their lives as a coach,
cook and confidant. Together with Jill and the kids, he would spend his summers at the cottage
in Harrington, Quebec, a place he truly loved. Bill was a constant in the lives of his ten
grandchildren, always there for them, knowing who needed a kind word when, and cheering
them on at their sporting events. Bill is predeceased by his (hero) mother Kathleen “Patty” Conrod, and father Gerald Conrod. Bill is survived by his twin brother Scott Conrod (Beverly)
and sister Anne (Conrod) Usher (late Robert). Family mattered to Bill and his love for them was
passionate and unfailing. Bill and Jill had four children, their pride and joy: Karen, Heidi
(Pierre), Kelly (Greg) and Matt (Alison). Bill adored his grandchildren: Cody (Robyn), Kyler
(Melanie), Noah, Simon, William, Catie, Heidi, Ben, Thomas and Jack, who referred to him as
“Papa Captain.” Bill graduated from West Hill High School in Montreal (1958), and went on to
earn a Bachelor’s Degree (B.Sc) at Concordia University (1962). Bill continued with his studies
at McGill University receiving his teaching diploma in 1963 and a Master’s Degree in education
(M.S.Ed) in 1967. Bill was an educator in his work and in his heart. He was a national leader and
innovator in the field of lifelong learning, retiring in 1999 as Vice-President of Continuing
Education at Ottawa’s Algonquin College. He worked tirelessly to help people through learning
and literacy, volunteering his time with the Association of Canadian Community Colleges,
Canadian Association for Adult Education and serving as a proud board member of the Terry
Fox Foundation. He began his career as a teacher at Mount Royal High School in 1963, where he
also discovered his love for coaching sports. In 1965, he and Jill heeded the call for adventure
and moved to Anaheim California, where Bill would teach at Freemont Junior High School and
bear witness to history in the making. Coming back to Canada, Bill would go on to become the
Director of Student Services Dawson College. His service to the students and the school where
acknowledged when the school pub was named in his honour. A fitting tribute to a man who
epitomized the term “life of the party”. Bill was a talented artist and vivid storyteller and would
go on to become a celebrated author in his retirement. In 2006, he published “Memories of
Snowden” and was pleasantly surprised to find it listed as a Bestseller in the Montreal Gazette.
He would go on to publish two more books, play golf with the group at La Cité, read voraciously, and meet at the pub for his book club. Bill died peacefully in his home with his loving wife, book in his hand, as he would have wanted it. We will miss you Captain! Family and friends are invited to visit at the Central Chapel of Hulse, Playfair & McGarry, 315 McLeod Street (at O’Connor) on Friday, September 21st from 4 to 7 pm. A Celebration of Bill’s life will be held in the Chapel on Saturday, September 22nd at 1pm.
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Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de William Ray
Conrod 1941 2018.
Décès pour la Ville: Ottawa, Province: Ontario
