Raymond K. Suutari
Sudbury, March 31, 1932 — Collingwood, July 2, 2021
Husband, father, grandfather, brother, mentor, teacher, intellectual, thinker, friend; left us for a more comfortable ski chair in his 90th year.
Ray, a kind and easily likeable gentle man with an unimpeachable moral compass and social conscience, always looked at both sides of every issue. He was a lifelong learner and student of history, economics, and world affairs, and followed current events and opinions voraciously. Ray was not afraid to swim upstream, using his voice on many occasions to challenge bigotry.
He and Airlie, to whom he was a devoted husband of 62 years, had an undeniable, cherished connection. He intuitively knew raising daughters required patience and broad shoulders: Kirsti (late Peter Lamy), Karen (Michael Fricker) and Lisa (Andrew MacKay) were unconditionally loved, respected, and challenged to meet their potential. His grandchildren Andrew, Emma, Connor, and Will brought him pride and immeasurable joy.
The son of immigrants and big brother to Arnold, Ray started school in Creighton Mine with no English to become a gifted orator who excelled academically. An Inco scholarship led to two degrees (BEng ‘5T5, MComm ‘5T7), with summers working in the mine. After early engagements in banking (IDB) and consulting (Woods Gordon), he turned to corporate management (Domglas/Consolidated Bathurst) before returning to academia, teaching at both McMaster and Wilfrid Laurier universities, and writing. He was forever a patient teacher, never a lecturer. His passion for skiing became a family legacy. He was president of both the Credit Valley Ski Club and Mansfield Ski Club, and enjoyed runs with his grandchildren at Osler through his 87th year.
Ray maintained his wit to the end, covering the challenges of progressing dementia with his self-deprecating humour. His ashes will be taken to his sacred place, the Suutari camp at Penage, where the proud Canadian of Finnish descent will rest, keeping watch over his woodpile and the many pieces he built by hand. In recognition of his many years of service to the National Cancer Institute of Canada, donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Raymond Suutari Friday July 2nd 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Collingwood, Province: Ontario