Obituary of Clifford Douglas Fraser

TOGETHER AGAIN Clifford Douglas (Doug) Fraser March 23, 1929 – April 1, 2020 It is with such a sense of loss that we announce the peaceful passing of an incredibly kind, loving man, Doug Fraser, in his 92nd year, at Victoria Hospital, holding his daughter’s hand. Doug was the devoted husband and constant companion to Audrey for almost 65 years and the most extraordinary dad to daughter Chris and beloved son Doug Jr., who passed in 1992. Doug lived a full, active and rewarding life. He was born in Oshawa in 1929 to Harold and Kathleen (Elliott) Fraser, and grew up in Toronto with older brother Ray (2016). He will be greatly missed by wife Audrey, daughter Chris, son-in-law Bob DesRoches, sister-in-law Joan Thurgarland, step-grandkids Judith DesRoches (Dave), Shawn DesRoches (Janine), step great-grandkids Sidney (Matt), Zack (Abby), Emily, Denika, Lucas and Nathan; nieces Lorie Hollingworth (Conrad), Janet Hollingworth (Clyde), Kathy Johnston (Peter), Janet Weir, nephew Bob Thurgarland (Cheryl), cousin Tanja Kilpatrick, special family friend Jackie Shum, and many other friends, neighbours and colleagues. So many kind words have been shared by friends and family – Doug is described as “an incredible loving man”, “a beautiful light who had a unique way of making everyone around him feel special” and having “a one-of-a-kind laugh that was absolutely infectious”. The years of love, support and memories for Doug and Audrey by so many people are gifts to our family. Doug and Audrey’s paths crossed when Doug gathered with other kids in Audrey’s family’s living room when they were the first in the neighbourhood to have a television (8 inch!) and played ping pong on the family’s dining room table. But the sparks didn’t fly until Audrey met her sister Joan at the bowling alley where Doug also happened to be. From the bowling alley they went ice skating, and the rest is history. In Toronto on October 8, 1955 Doug and Audrey were married. Doug attended Maurice Cody Public School and North Toronto Collegiate High School. In his earlier years he was an accomplished athlete, having held championships in middle-distance and cross country running, tennis, curling and hockey as goal tender. He often joked that it took him 7 years to complete 5 years of high school because he was on two hockey teams. He recounts fond memories of his time as Director of the Granite Club in Chatham and the curling tournaments there. He served as Director and President of the London Western Track and Field Club and was an enthusiastic supporter at all of Chris and Doug Jr.’s track and field and other athletic endeavors. He loved music; in earlier years he played “a cool tenor sax” in an orchestra and sang bass baritone in a quartet. At the age of 19 Doug started in the mail room with Imperial Oil in Toronto which led to roles in other departments that took Doug and Audrey to London, Chatham (where Chris was born), Dawson Creek, British Columbia (where Doug Jr. was born) and Edmonton, Alberta. In 1969 Doug and Audrey took a leap of faith together, returned to London and established a successful business in oil and natural gas exploration. Doug was an owner and officer of several corporations including C.D. Fraser Land Services Ltd., Lovat Land Consultants Ltd., Oilfield Cleanup Services Ltd., and Petroland Ltd. Much to Audrey’s chagrin he never actually retired, continuing to manage Petroland Ltd., until his passing. Doug served as Director and President of the Ontario Petroleum Institute promoting ethics, education and environmental awareness in the Ontario oil industry. He was a speaker for the Ontario Petroleum Institute, Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Ontario Appraisal Institute and guest lecturer for the Faculty of Geology at Western University. Doug supported many charities as a donor and leader. He was vice chairman of the United Way campaign in Chatham in 1966 and was quietly proud that 107% of the goal was achieved that year. Doug and Audrey annually sponsor a gift for the recipient of the Male Athlete of the Year Award at Saunders Secondary School created in Doug Jr.’s memory. He and Audrey sponsored Southwest Optimist hockey programs for many years. Doug established a bursary at the Pine River United Church in Ripley, Ontario (birthplace of his father) to support scholarships for students pursuing agriculture and environmental programs. He was Secretary-Treasurer and fund raiser for the local chapter of the Canadian Spinal Research Organization and has been a supporter of Parkwood Institute and St. Joseph’s Health Care London since 1988 with a special place in his heart for spinal cord injury rehabilitation and research. He was the co-creator and administrator of the Possibilities Project, without whom this important initiative supporting persons with spinal cord and brain injuries and amputations at Parkwood Institute would not have been possible. In a letter to Chris in 2002, Doug wrote, “Mom and I tried to convey to you and Doug a sense of honesty and integrity, wisdom, intelligence, understanding, compassion, kindness and patience, courage, determination, perseverance and strength, and love for others and for yourselves.” These attributes describe perfectly how Doug lived his life personally and professionally. Despite, or because of, the challenges our family has experienced, Doug lived his life with appreciation and gratitude. He so often said, “We are the luckiest family in the world.” Our family wishes to express our heartfelt gratitude to the extraordinary nurses, PSWs, physicians and support staff in the Acute Care for the Elderly (ACE) unit and the physicians from the Sub-Acute Medicine Unit at Victoria Hospital. Their expertise, kindness and caring for Doug will always be remembered. Our love goes out to friends and our “Parkwood family” for your support over the past weeks. Doug never liked to say goodbye – his signature sign-off was always “toodle-oo”. Toodle-oo, Dad, until we meet again. Cremation has taken place. A private family interment will be held. Those wishing to make a donation in Doug’s memory may consider London Health Sciences Foundation (please request that your gift be directed to the Acute Care for the Elderly Unit) or to The Possibilities Project, c/o St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation, London - https://www.sjhcfoundation.org/possibilities, 519-646-6100, ext. 64562 or by mail to St. Joseph’s Health Care London, P.O Box 5777, Station B, London, Ontario, N6A 4V2.