I want to share a memory of Bill that makes me smile every time I think of it.  Every year on Christmas Eve, my kids and I made it a tradition to take a family photo on the couch in the living room.

After I met Bill, he celebrated his first Christmas with us in 2009, and when it was time for the annual couch picture, he casually walked straight to the far right spot of the couch. My kids and I looked at each other and we all started yelling at him not to sit there! He turned around and looked at us confused, as he had no idea of what was going on.

In a nutshell, over the years our family had joked about the fact that the far right spot of the couch had become 'cursed', as coincidentally we noticed that anyone outside our family who sat in it did not return the next year... (ask my kids about it!). We definitely did not want Bill to sit in that spot! My girls then took him and placed him on the other side of the couch, where he would be safe and sound, with many more Christmases to come.

It was such a precious moment; one of so many that made Bill so special within our family and it showed how much we all loved him right from the beginning.

I miss Bill beyond words and I would give anything to hear him say one more time        ‘I love you my sunshine‘ ☀️

Having known Bill for over 40 years, there is a vast reservoir of memories. Many wonderful times spent sailing as couples and as families. Times spent enjoying wonderful dinners on boats, at restaurants and in our homes.  Bill would often nod off between courses!  Many great coffee experiences after dental appointments too! Despite devastating losses, Bill was able to move beyond grief to find and build a life with Brigitte and her family.

Brigitte, you were a precious gift, seemingly hand picked to share and make many lasting memories during your time together. Hopefully this will provide some comfort.

Bill lived a life epitomizing love, resilience, kindness, and humility. May we draw inspiration and always treasure the footprint he made on our lives.

Shelley and Brent Wilson

I have a lot of memories of time spent with Bill and Judy and the extra bond we had of all going through our dental training together and graduating at the same time.  

Bill was also very generous with his time and handyman skills and this past summer he came up to my cottage to help with some repairs that needed doing.  I will always treasure the weekend we spent working hard but also sharing memories and enjoying the time together.  Of course we had Happy Hour at the end of the day!

Our memories of Bill.

We met in Goose Bay 1979. After arriving in the early morning from an overnight flight and immediately getting into the “Carnival Spirit”. Bill and Judy arrived at 0830 for a “Carnival Breakfast”. Their uplifting joy and friendship at that hour of the morning led to an immediate understanding that I had made friends for life. They told me at one time that good friends are those you need not communicate with daily or weekly but pickup where you left off. We lived that to the maxim.

Years of chasing Bill down ski trails led me to wonder how I ever survived but with Bill’s encouragement I managed. Marianne reminds that we were forced to eat our sandwiches - always whole wheat sandwiches - on the ski lift in oder to enhance our ski time.

We both had an interest in sailing, so over the years we managed to get together on both coasts, even for a long weekend of sailing at Gimli. After transferring to the West Coast they arrived with Peter in tow for a visit. What a joy, you could see Bill so happy at being a father. We shared in the heartache of his passing. Then Judy’s passing. We all wondered how he would manage. He coped with his usual stoicism and calmness! Later on he came for a sailing visit. While on that trip he introduced me to Pyrat Rum. As time passed, with out making that daily or weekly contact, he said he would arrive with his friend Brigitte. We had a wonderful visit, including a couple of sails on our new boat, named Pyrat. Followed a couple of years later with another visit, with a couple of days notice. Good friends - that was our Bill.

Brigette, our sincere condolences, know that you had a good man and we will not forget him. Condolences also to the Dawson family - those that I have met and haven’t met.

Dick and Marianne Duffley