Dianne Renwick

Other Events:

• Honoured: Cambridge Sports Hall of Fame
• Interesting: sports, business
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-430757
• Residence: 2001, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Lifetimes: Gord Renwick played prominent role in hockey world

By Valerie Hill Special to the Record

They met because of hockey and enjoyed a lifetime of international travel because of hockey but the funny thing was, Maggie Renwick didn't much care about the sport. At least not at first.

Her husband, Gord Renwick, an inductee in the Cambridge sports Hall of Fame, was known around the world as a leader and a determined supporter of amateur hockey.

Maggie lived in Toronto, Gord in the Galt area of Cambridge where he ran a construction company his father founded. They had both been invited to a party in Collingwood. Maggie arrived with two friends and was pretty bored all night. Hoping to leave by midnight, her friends had other plans so Maggie resorted to raiding the fridge. That's when Gord, arriving late after a hockey game in Cambridge, sauntered in around midnight and said to the host "so who did you pick out for me?"

The host replied, it was the one with her head in the fridge, she recalled.

"He didn't talk much and that intrigued me," said Maggie, who married the tardy visitor in 1978 after a nine-year courtship. Gord was married previously and had five children. Maggie had a well-paid job in administration for Ted Rogers but was growing weary of the commute.

Gord was born in Galt, Feb. 13, 1935, one of three kids. His father, Donald founder of Renwick Construction, brought his sons Don and Gord into the residential home building business. Unfortunately, Donald fell from a barn roof and died in 1963. Gord took over the business and proved himself an astute businessperson, expanding to constructing industrial and commercial buildings. His brother, Don, was less interested and left to pursue a real estate career.

Maggie said Gord was known as honest and caring about his tenants, regularly visiting them to ensure all was OK.

Mike Lawrie, a friend, said Gord was "modest and humble, a very good listener."

The couple were also generous and donated millions to the reconstruction of Cambridge Memorial Hospital. Always anonymously.

"He tended to shy away from recognition," said Mike, a doctor, adding there is a bridge at the hospital named in his honour.

The only time he agreed to publicly declare his donation was in 2007 when the couple set up a $4.5-million endowment fund for the Cambridge & North Dumfries Community Foundation. Gord had sold all his rental properties a year earlier and wanted to do something for the community. The foundation hoped others would follow his example.

Gord's devotion to his community had taken an unexpected turn in the mid-1960s, one that would lead him to a different kind of recognition.

Although Gord's first love was baseball, he was asked to revamp the Galt Hornets senior hockey team. As club president, Gord organized, promoted and landed lucrative sponsorships, helping the team win two national championships. The team went on to represent Canada in European tournaments, where he soon created a cross-pollination between Canada and European hockey clubs.

He told a reporter, "It opened up the door, the opportunity for senior clubs right across Canada to go to Europe and play in tournaments and meet the guys."

The modest man received many awards. In 2007, he was presented with the Order of Hockey in Canada, recognizing his work developing Canadian amateur hockey and competition internationally. He also served as president of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association.

"It wasn't NHL: he liked Canadian games, international hockey," said his daughter Brenda Renwick. "He liked doing this for the country."

These international tournaments meant the couple had a rich travel life as they attended events in Asia, Europe and Russia.

In his free time, Gord played golf and sailed. Maggie remembers being enamoured with images of a rental sailboat in Australia, spotted on a magazine cover. Within days, the two were in Australia and on that very boat for a rather thrilling sail.

"There was a storm coming: we went anyway," said Maggie.

Their idyllic life nearly came to an end in 1988 in a serious car crash on the way to their Muskoka cottage.

Gord spent months recovering, requiring multiple surgeries, including reconstruction of his face using bone from his skull. He later told a reporter that the crash taught him a valuable lesson.

"I decided never to put things off anymore," he said. That lead him to run for president of the International Ice Hockey Federation, a bid he lost though he had served as vice president from 1986 to 1994.

Gord was inducted into the federation's Hall of Fame in 2002 and in Canada, the Renwick Cup is named in his honour. Gord died Jan. 6 but his legacy in hockey will not be forgotten.

"Lifetimes: Gord Renwick Played Prominent Role In Hockey World". 2021. Therecord.Com. https://www.therecord.com/life/2021/02/01/lifetimes-gord-renwick-played-prominent-role-in-hockey-world.html.

________________

GORDON RENWICK OBITUARY

Gordon Renwick was born in Galt, Ontario in 1935. On Wednesday, January 6, 2021 he peacefully passed away at Stirling Heights Long Term Care home in Cambridge in his 86th year. He is survived by his wife Maggie, his sister Betty Hevenor (David), his children from his first marriage (Merle), Linda Canning (Joe), Dianne Shiels (Kevin), Brenda Renwick (Nat), Don Renwick (Michelle) and Jimi Renwick (Amanda). Also survived by 16 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Predeceased by his parents, Donald and Daisy Renwick and also his brother Don Renwick. His career began with Renwick Construction, a company started by his father. His company built many homes and industrial buildings in the Cambridge area. Although Gord was a big baseball fan, his passion was his involvement in ice hockey. This began with him, as President, leading the Galt Hornets to Allan Cup championships in 1969 and 1971. He then became President of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) and then on to Vice-President of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). Throughout his hockey career he received many prestigious awards. Including being inducted into the Cambridge Sports Hall of Fame three times. He was also honoured along with the inaugural class of the Order of Hockey in Canada in 2012. He was made a life member of Hockey Canada and is also the namesake of the Renwick Cup, awarded annually in the AAA senior ice hockey league. During his retirement he enjoyed vacations at sea with all of his children and grandchildren. His favourite place was his Muskoka cottage on Lake Rosseau and spending time there with his family and friends. A special thank you to all his loving caregivers, Reina, Loraine and Brenda, who took excellent care of him during the last few years. A celebration of Gord's life will be held at a later date when it is safe to do so. In lieu of flowers, donations to a charity of your choice would be greatly appreciated by the family.

Gordon — Merle Irene Keys. Merle was born 13 Dec 1936, Amaranth Twp., Dufferin Co., Ontario; died 2 Sep 1999, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Greenwood Cemetery, Orangeville, Mono Twp., Dufferin Co., Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Merle Irene Renwick
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-225988

Notes:

RENWICK, Merle Irene at her residence on Thursday September 2, 1999 in her 64th year. Dear mother of Linda and husband Joe Canning of Ayr. Dianne and husband Kevin Shiels, Brenda and husband Roger Brown, Don and wife Michelle Renwick and Jimi Renwick all of Cambridge. Loving grand-mother of Eliesha, Derik, Danny, Dylan, Tanner, Taylor, Trever, Haley and Riley. Friends will be received at COU'TTS & SON FUNERAL HOME 96 St. Andrews St. Cambridge on Saturday from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. Funeral service will be conducted in the Funeral Home Chapel on Sunday September 5, 1999 at 1:30 p.m. with Rev. Bob Skelding officiating. Cremation has taken place. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Alzheimer's Society and would be appreciated by the family.

_________

Daughter of Harvey Victor Keys and Violet Irene Ritchie.

Other Events:

• Business: Renwick Construction
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-205970
• Immigration: 1910, , Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1911, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Anglican
• Misfortune: 1963; killed in fall

Notes:

My grandfather died in 1963. He fell off a roof corner of Franklin and Dundas (was Whispers Hair Style) gone now. Died of a blood clot in his leg while in hospital.

email Brenda Renwick 2019

Misfortune:
Donald fell from a barn roof and died.

Donald married Daisy Bolt 4 Apr 1934, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Daisy (daughter of Sydney Bolt and Florence Minnie Mallett) was born 4 Oct 1908, Whitchurch, , Devonshire, England; died 25 Jun 2001, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried 28 Jun 2001, Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Daisy Renwick
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-206591

Notes:

RENWICK, Daisy

After a brief illness, at Cambridge Memorial Hospital, on Monday, June 25, 2001, Daisy Renwick (nee Bolt), of Cambridge. Beloved wife of the late Donald Renwick (1963). Dear mother of Gordon (Maggie) of Cambridge, Donald (Nessie) of Ayr and Betty-Jean (David) Hevenor of Ennismore. Loved by 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Predeceased by sisters, Mary Trussler and Ada Holcroft and brothers, John and Harold Bolt. Mrs. Renwick was a longtime member of Wesley United Church. Friends were received at Coutts & Son Funeral Home, 96 St. Andrews St., Cambridge, on Wednesday, from 7-9 p.m. Funeral and committal services will be conducted at the funeral home chapel, Thursday, June 28, 2001 (today), at 1:30 p.m., with Rev. Roy Holton officiating. Reception to follow in Coutts Reception Cottage. Interment, Mount View Cemetery.

Cambridge Reporter 2001

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-205956
• Immigration: 1910, , Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1911, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Electrician
• Residence: 1911, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Anglican

Robert — Susan Isabel Wilkinson. Susan was born 17 Aug 1866, Leytonstone. Essex, England; died 30 Oct 1955, , Huron Co., Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Susan Isabel Renwick
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-205957
• Immigration: 1910, , Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1911, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Anglican

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-439963

Sydney — Florence Minnie Mallett. Florence was born 1882, Tavistock, , Devonshire, England; died 1966, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Florence Minnie Bolt
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-439964