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March 17, 1933 – April 20, 2024
‘Mo’ grew up in Westmount, Quebec, with his sisters, Janice (Vining) and Margaret Lynne (Ross); and their parents, Gertrude and Lovel Jaques. Maurice was named after his Uncle Maurice, who at just 18 years of age was killed in WWI at the Battle of the Somme.
Mo had an idyllic childhood as the cherished only male child in his extended family. He made a name for himself at Lower Canada College, excelling at kicking field goals for the football team and playing goalie on the LCC hockey team.
Mo attended McGill University and joined the Delta Upsilon fraternity. While he attended his undergraduate classes, he met and fell headlong for the love of his life, Judy Driscoll, from Montreal West. Their romance flourished, and were married on June 28, 1955, and were happily together for 68 years, until Judy passed away last May.
Mo and Judy built their life together on the West Island of Montreal, in a beautiful lakeside home, until they moved to Toronto in 2019 to be closer to their family.
Mo leaves behind his immediate family of three children, Fred (Janet), Jennifer (Alan) and Jim (Michele); six grandchildren, Alexandra (Ryan), Gillian (Alex), Matti (Stephanie), Kate (Victoria), Michael and Andrew; and one great-grandchild, Quinn.
Mo left McGill to work in the field of marine insurance with his uncle Hugh, and his career flourished from there. After working at several firms, Mo started his own company, Eastern Marine Underwriters, which grew quickly into a strong company providing marine insurance for all situations from Canadian pleasure boaters to cargo insurance on ocean-going ships. Mo’s passion led him to become a global insurance leader and the President of the Canadian Board of Marine Underwriters (CBMU), President of the International Underwriters of Marine Insurance (IUMI), and a NATO committee member consulting on shipping risks through war zones around the world. He was also the Chair of the Board of Lower Canada College. These organizations all benefited from Mo’s passion and intelligence. Later in his career, Mo was the Chair of the fundraising board of the Montreal General Hospital and won the award of merit for his service in 2012.
Mo volunteered his time with many other nautical organizations, including the Canadian Power Squadron (CPS), where he rose to the level of District Commander. Mo also volunteered at CPS, teaching evening classes to new boaters who wanted to learn navigation and safe boating procedures.
Over the years, Mo owned many boats, his favourite being the Duchess, his beloved 1937 Ditchburn. He shared his love of boating with his family and friends, and was generous about lending his boats for other’s fun. If anything ever happened, and it did (!), his famous quote was a calmly uttered, “Is everyone ok? That’s the important thing. Don’t worry about the boat, that’s what insurance is for.”
Mo loved every aspect of boating, and was the Commodore of the Royal St. Lawrence Yacht Club for several years in the mid-’80s. In 2021, Mo was recognized as an Honorary Life Commodore for his outstanding and continuous service to the club.
Mo was generally regarded as one of the nicest people you’d ever meet. His kind, gentle empathetic personality, coupled with a sense of humour, infinite patience, and high EQ, led him to be extremely popular wherever he went. His family used to tease him that it would take hours for him to walk across the front lawn at the yacht club, because he would stop every few feet to enjoy another conversation.
Mo was also musically gifted, and played the piano and accordion really well, all by ear, since he could not read music. He loved a good party, was a truly great host, and always made sure your glass was full. He could often be heard playing late into the night at their parties, while Judy belted out the tunes alongside him.
A joint private interment with Judy in the Jaques family plot at Mount Royal Cemetery would have been what they both wanted and will take place in June. In Mo’s honour, please donate to either the Montreal General Hospital Foundation or Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto.
A celebration of life for Mo and Judy will be held at the Morley Bedford Funeral Home, 159 Eglinton Avenue West, Toronto, on Monday, April 29th from 5 – 7 p.m.
An additional celebration of life will be held in Montreal. Details to follow.
A very special thanks to all the staff of the Dunfield Retirement Residence, and to Mo’s personal caregivers: Faith, Teo, Gladys and Angie.
2024
Morley Bedford Funeral Services Ltd
Death notice for the town of: Toronto, Province: Ontario
death notice Maurice FL Jaques
obituaries notice Maurice FL Jaques
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Maurice FL Jaques and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
