Parcourez la nécrologie de RODNEY VANDER MEERSCH 2024 résidant dans la province Ontario pour le détail des funérailles
RODNEY CHARLES BRYAN VANDER MEERSCH
May 15, 19 42 – February 9, 2024
Rodney lived a long and storied life, beginning in the UK, where he was born to Joyce and Thomas Vander Meersch. Thomas was a Chartered Accountant (a protected profession during the war), hence was sent to the oil fields of Trinidad through the influence of his father-in-law, CC George (who headed up Barclays Bank across the Caribbean). Thomas later sent for his family when Rodney was two years old and his sister Carolyn four. Joyce bravely took their children across the Atlantic in a large ship convoy – a terrifying experience as they were prime targets for the Germans. Andrew, five years his junior was later born in Trinidad.
Rodney grew up on the beaches of Point-a-Pierre, happily adapting to a life of island breezes. He attended primary and secondary school, swam like a fish and ran wild. At age 12, with no further education available on the island, he was shipped off to boarding school in the UK at Pangbourne Royal Naval College. He often joked about his dreaded boarding-school experiences. One memory in particular stood out: for Christmas holidays, the only way to travel back home to Trinidad was by ship. One fateful year, he boarded the vessel, only to be stranded for weeks in Wales as the ship had engine troubles. Once repaired, it set sail again, but so much time had elapsed that Rodney only had one day on the ground in Trinidad before he had to reboard the ship for the journey back to school!
In his youth, he discovered a love of running and later went on to win a silver medal at the European Games. He was a gifted sprinter who quickly gained a reputation as a barefoot runner. After all his island adventures, he’d developed a preference for feeling the ground beneath him. UK locals would marvel at the boy who would train on the village green in bare feet – quite unconventional.
Rodney entered the workforce right out of school. He quickly climbed the corporate ladder in British manufacturing, due to his math skills, jolly-good character and dashing looks! Around this time, he met Alison, a cello-playing soprano who charmed him from the stage of the Royal Albert Hall. They married in their early twenties and Clare was born shortly afterward, in 1969.
Understanding that there was a need for management training in post-war UK, Rodney decided to attend Cranfield University graduating with an MBA in 1970. A fortuitous meeting in London with a former boss had a life-changing outcome. Russell Brake told him that AE Ames was hiring in Toronto and suggested that Rodney come work for him. He transferred to Canada in 1976. Rodney became a fixture on Bay St. during the 1970s and ’80s as an investment banker for various firms, including AE Ames, Bache Securities, a two-year stint for Lehman Brothers on Wall St. (where he worked in the Twin Towers), Cowan and Co., and lastly Morgan Keegan. He financed everything from telecom, mining and lightweight silicone foam. There was hardly a name in Canadian business he didn’t brush up against.
He cared passionately about World War II history and was an enthusiastic supporter of the restoration of the Halifax aircraft in the National Airforce Museum in Trenton, Ontario. He remained a lifelong admirer of fine art, and he was honored to have this portrait painted by Gertrude Steiger Kearns.
In retirement, he lived with his daughter and grandson, Jasper in Roncesvalles, where he became a much-loved local character. His passion for reading grew insatiable, and he devoured a book a day. Rodney became a resident raconteur at almost every west-end coffee shop, sharing his knowledge and considerable opinions.
Sadly, in his later years, Rodney suffered from Alzheimer’s. Mercifully, he found loving care at the well-run City of Toronto home Kipling Acres. Rodney will be remembered by Clare, Scott and Jasper, his colleagues and friends, for his integrity, natural social ease, big-hearted kindness and his beaming smile.
A celebration of life will be held at Hogle Funeral Home May 25, 2024 . His ashes will be returned to his native England.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Alzheimer Society of Canada would be appreciated.
2024
Décès pour la Ville:Toronto, Province: Ontario
avis deces RODNEY VANDER MEERSCH 2024
nécrologie RODNEY VANDER MEERSCH 2024
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