R A Morrison

Roderick Alexander Morrison

Obituary

Roderick Alexander Morrison - March 14, 1933 – September 22, 2016

 

Passed away peacefully on Thursday September 22, 2016 at the West Island Palliative Care Residence after a brief battle with cancer.

Rod was a beloved husband of 60 years to Jean Bridson, a loving father to Joanne (Louis Pellin) and a proud and adoring papa to Alyssa and Luka.

He was predeceased by his brother Stan and his wife Carol. He is survived by their children, Don (Kie), Kathy (Bill), Ted and Alan.

He was also predeceased by his brother-in-law Edmund Bridson and survived by his wife Betty and their children, Cheryl-Ann (Chris), Derek and Steve (Mandy).

Rod was born and grew up in Montreal. He attended Strathcona Academy and graduated from McGill in Mechanical Engineering in 1955. Most of his working life was with Peacock Inc. in Ville LaSalle. Upon his retirement he worked as a volunteer director and fund raiser for NOVA West Island. He was a long time member of the Beaconsfield Golf Course.

The family wishes to thank Luhan, Dora and the NOVA for their outstanding care to both Rod and Jean. We would also like to thank the nurses and doctors at the CLSC Pierrefonds and the West Island Palliative Care Residence.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the West Island Palliative Care Residence or to the NOVA West Island.

A celebration of Rod's Life took place on Sunday October 2, 2016 between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. at the Beaconsfield Golf Club, 49 Golf Avenue, Pointe-Claire.

 From the Montreal Gazette Sept 24, 2016

A few footnotes from earlier years...

R. A. Morrison Jr. was my uncle, and to me was always known as Uncle Rod. I really thought he'd would be around forever because he always looked young, even when I last saw him seriously ill about a week before his passing he hadn't lost his sense of humour. 

As the above dates reveal, Uncle Rod saw his 82nd birthday but not his 83rd. 

In family mourning we oft forget that the one we mourn for, once had parents who were mourned for too. Below is an image of R. A. Morrison's parents.

From the early 1950's: Roderick Morrison Sr. and Katy Morrison in Montreal.

This following image was a framed fixture in the living room of Uncle Rod's parents' home; I saw it often.

Early1940's: Roderick Jr. and Sr. together

Getting some practice...

This next scene was recorded in 1954. Although I was present at the time I can't say that I remember anything at all. Uncle Rod was 21 and had become an uncle a few months earlier.

16 years after this scene was recorded, Uncle Rod became a father when Joanne was born.

1954: Roderick Jr. holding his nephew while his father, Roderick Sr. looks on.

The Oddblock Station Agent

Where Am I?

Once upon a time

I used to know this answer

Today I don’t know.

Old loved ones I miss

Their wisdom fled with them too

Swept away by time.

Life's routes were once mapped

I had dreams to grasp... but I

Mislaid my compass.

So sticks this question

vexing, where should I now trod?

I may never know.

A Story Behind the Story

That April 28, 1967, morning, I was a Montreal Gazette paper boy, and I had to borrow a friend's wagon to deliver this edition, the only time I had to use a wagon in the three years I delivered newspapers.

If I recall correctly, my father who was a Montreal Gazette employee, said 152 pages was the largest edition ever printed.

Expo 67 was a world event and the focal showcase of Canada's 100th birthday. More than fifty million people visited Expo 67 in those six months it was open. That was 2 1/2 times Canada's population at the time.

See that box in the top left corner?

That was the score for game 4 of the Stanley Cup play-offs that year - the Toronto Maple Leafs went on to win the next two games and win the Stanley Cup. That was also the last time the Leafs won the cup... which of course is still mentioned every hockey season.

The Oddblock Station Agent