passed away March 22nd at the age of 78.
Harry leaves behind his loving wife of 54 years Judy, his daughter Jennifer
McKinnell (John) grandsons Rhys and Grady of Burlington and his son Matthew
(Adrienne ) granddaughter Summer of Clearwater Florida. Harry was
predeceased by his parents Harry (1977) and Doris (2001) his brother Robert
(2013) and son Scott (1969].
Harry was born in Toronto, a graduate of Jarvis Collegiate and Ryerson
University after which he moved down the street to join Sears Canada for 32
years. His years at Sears led him to Ottawa where he met and married Judy.
Sears moves took them to Kitchener, Toronto, Montreal, back to Toronto ending
his career in the Montreal Fashion offices, which had been created by his father
in 1958. Harry progressed from store department manger, to buyer, to general
manager of men’s and ladies wear for Canada. Harry’s fondest memories were
always his years as a buyer of fashions. His philosophy, if you look good you will
feel good, was always with him.
His years at Sears allowed Harry to experience many perks from world wide
travel, to meeting Sir Edmund Hillary as a ski buyer, to dining with Arnold and
Winnie Palmer as their guest and later enjoying his rounds of golf at Bay Hill,
representing Sears at the very first World Championship of Golf in Arizona, to
playing several Canadian LPGA Pro-am’s. The highlight was one win and an
unforgettable round with Laura Davies.
After early retirement Harry and Judy enjoyed travelling by car through eight
provinces and forty two states, stopping to explore whatever caught their fancy.
Some trips to visit their daughter in Illinois or their son in Las Vegas could take
up to three weeks. These trips culminated in twelve happy years as six month
snowbirds in Bradenton Florida.
Golf, meal preparation and his ever present iPad were Harry’s greatest passions.
On his ride to hospital by ambulance he reminded Judy to bring his iPad. Harry
was always exploring technology from the early eighties until 2021. His iCloud
storage probably contains thousands of recipes he had made or was planning on
making. Harry took over all the shopping and meal preparation after retirement
never being satisfied until all meals were visually presented as well as tasty.
His golf took him from Glen Abbey, to Wyldewood in Oakville, to Beaconsfield in
Quebec, to Cedar Brae in Scarborough and back to Beaconsfield where he
served on the board as greens chair and the first male to run the junior
programme and the retired men’s league. His final destination was the Brantford
Golf & Country Club.
Harry spent the last two and a half years enjoying the gift of immunotherapy with
thanks to Dr. Bryan Lee and his team at the cancer clinic, (Brantford General
Hospital).This allowed him an incredible quality of life and one of the best
summers in 2020 of golf and good scores (70 rounds).
Cremation has taken place and Harry’s wishes as a recent convert to Catholicism
were to have a celebration of mass at Our Lady of Assumption St Mary’s Church
at a time when his family could gather together.
Donations in Harry’s memory would gratefully be received by Sick Kids Hospital,
Stedman Hospice or the Brantford General Hospital Cancer unit.
2021
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de CARDWELL Harry William 2021..
Décès pour la Ville:Brantford, Province: Ontario