James Richard Gorwill (Dick) passed away peacefully at his home. He was a loving husband to Patricia (née Atkins), his wife of 60 years, proud father of Leslie Bontje, Ian, and Sheila Burkman (Harry), and beloved grandpa to Katie, Madison, and Stephanie. He was predeceased by his sisters, Mary Margaret Harris and Ruth Gorwill.

Dick was born in Cochrane, Ontario, to Reverend James and Mildred Gorwill. He spent his younger years in Gravenhurst and several eventful years in Toronto, once the family was moved to the Broadview and Danforth area. He delivered milk by horse and wagon in the East End, got last-minute tickets to games at Maple Leaf Gardens, and caddied for Billy Bishop in the summers.

Academically, he studied political science and economics at Queen’s University and graduated from UBC Law School in 1961. He managed to squeeze in summers firing off cannons at Royal Military College, working as a sleeping car conductor for CP Rail, and working for three years as a cub reporter for The Globe and Mail.

He moved to Lindsay, Ontario, in 1963 to practise law with the Honourable Leslie Frost, former premier of the Province of Ontario, and remained there for 43 years. During that time, he was very politically active and became increasingly involved in the wider community. His participation in the Academy Theatre Foundation, Rotary Club, and Cambridge Street United Church, founding of the Lindsay Chapter of the Boys and Girls Club of Canada, and service on the boards of the Five Counties Children’s Centre, the Ross Memorial Hospital, and Sir Sanford Fleming College all added his energy to the Lindsay area.

While he firmly believed in public service, Dick’s private passions were friends, family, fine music, travel, history, and extensive stamp collecting. He was a Renaissance man in many ways.

An avid sportsman, he was a founding member of the Gull River Yacht, Bottle & Racquet Club. He played tennis every week for almost 40 years. He skied, golfed, was a devoted Toronto Maple Leafs fan, and loved his time on the water on Three Mile and Balsam Lakes. None of us will ever forget his wit, joy, and devilish grin.