Donald Ross Downey

Donald was born on Feb 26, 1924 and grew up in Alliston, Ontario. He joined the Air Force in 1943 and served in Dunville, Ontario and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia during World War II. After the war, he studied Anthropology at U. of T. and did graduate fieldwork in Archeology at University of Arizona. He then worked on weather stations in the Canadian Arctic as a Meteorologist for the Department of Transport for three years. He later discovered a love for teaching. First, he taught at Ryerson in Toronto, then taught high school in Dundalk, Alliston and Opeongo near Eganville, a total of 35 years.

Don was married to Margaret Isobel Hodgson for 63 years. Together, they were active members of St John’s Anglican Church in Eganville for 56 years. Don was also elected as town councillor of Eganville for 8 years and organized the Rotary Ski School for 25 years and was an avid skier until he was 80.  He had a record of 53 years of perfect attendance as a Rotarian and in 1988 became a Paul Harris Fellow. He was a member of the Eganville Royal Canadian Legion for 53 years. In 2013 he received the Senior Achievement Award from the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario in recognition of significant volunteer contribution to his community after the age of 65. He loved his family, the cottage, skiing, Star Trek, reading  and playing card games with his kids and grandkids. He was known for his patience, kindness and giving nature, and lived by his favourite motto, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all”. He is survived by his wife Margaret, and his children, Jade, Shawn (Patti), Pam, Hugh (Marnie) and grandchildren, Alex (Joseph), Genna, Sigourney, Zackary, Jake, Ronan, Keenan and Kate.

Private Celebration Of Life

A Private Celebration Of Life will take place. Interment later Evergreen Cemetery, Haliburton. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the HALIBURTON COMMUNITY FUNERAL HOME  13523 Hwy. #118, Haliburton, Ontario (705) 457-9209.