Colin Edward Litton
July 09, 1942 – December 05, 2020
It is with profound sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of Colin on Saturday, December 5th, at the age of 78. He is survived by ‘his girls’: Helen, his adoring wife of 50 years, his daughters Michelle Provencher and Nicola Penfold, and his four granddaughters, Morgan, Devon, Claire and Julia. He also leaves behind his two sons-in-law, Marc and Brett who both had the utmost love and respect for Colin and which was genuinely reciprocated, his brother Peter, and niece and nephew, Claire and Mark.
Colin was born in Leith, Scotland and spent his youth in Devon, England, growing up during the war and through the years of the rationing that followed. He was an adventurous lad, at one time leaving home with his brother for 2 weeks to cycle from Exeter to Land’s End and back, camping in fields along the way. As a boy, he liked to be on his own and loathed large family get-togethers and traditional events. He told us how he cheered the night the Theatre Royal caught fire because it meant that he would never again have to endure the annual Pantomime.
He immigrated to South Africa in 1968 to further his career as a Chartered Accountant. It was there that he met the love of his life, Helen, and the two married and started a family in Johannesburg where they lived for 10 years. In 1980 they immigrated to Canada to pursue Colin’s professional aspirations and provide the best opportunities for their young family. He loved his work and thrived on the challenges it provided. After a very successful career, including the appointment as a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Professional Accountants, Colin reluctantly retired from his role as a partner and National Director of KPMG’s Banking and Finance Practice at the age of 63. During his career, Colin served as an advisor to several professional and regulatory bodies and was a Certified Director of the Institute of Corporate Directors (Canada).
Deciding that retirement wasn’t for him, in 2006 he and Helen moved to Australia for 2 years to explore that part of the world while he continued to work in KPMG’s Melbourne office as lead partner for a major banking client.
Upon returning to Canada, Colin served in various roles on many boards including the Oakville Symphony Orchestra, Versa Bank, Deposit Insurance Corporation of Ontario, and Canadian Scholarship Trust.
He had a life-long love affair with steam engines, sail boats, beans on toast, licorice all sorts, and the Dam Busters. He was a master of the English language, had a love of history, enjoyed classical music, books, and time at his cottage, especially his morning swims. He was an avid hiker and enjoyed ‘supervising’ the various building projects around Bronte Harbour. He took fashion cues from no one and prided himself on wearing clothes well past their best before date, never giving up on a pair of good denim shorts. He adored his granddaughters who filled him with immense pride and who are lucky to have known such a brilliant, kind and gentle soul.
In no particular order, he disliked sticky fingers, family game nights, ‘jangly’ music, historically inaccurate movies, sports of any kind, and Christmas.
Colin will be remembered as a man of great integrity and work ethic, a mentor, freely giving of his time and expertise, a philanthropist, a trusted colleague and a loyal friend. We all lost so much when we said goodbye – a husband, a father, a granddad, a brother and a friend. A man who could always find the silver lining in any cloud.
Arrangements entrusted to Kopriva Taylor Community Funeral Home. We invite you to leave your memories and condolences online at www.koprivataylorcommunityfuneralhome.com and they will be forwarded to the family.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that instead, donations be made to the Oakville Hospital Foundation. All donations made in Colin’s memory will be directed to the Intensive Care Unit where he received exceptional care in his final days www.oakvillehospitalfoundation.com
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Colin Edward Litton July 09 1942 December 05 2020..
Kopriva Taylor Community Funeral Home
Death notice for the town of: Oakville, Province: Ontario