Donald A. Woolridge, 1928-2017.
Retired V.P. Corporate Information Services of Confederation Life. Born December 17, 1928, in St. John's, NL, died June 6, 2017 in hospital in Toronto, age 88.
Don began his impressive career at Confederation Life in St. John's. His potential was soon noticed and he was sent to head office in Toronto for managerial training. He accepted a transfer to the global head office in 1960 and moved to Toronto with his family - wife Shirley (née Wornell), and their first two children, Karen and Doug. Their third child, Donna, was born in Toronto. His signature achievement was the computerization of Confederation Life. It began with large mainframes, was followed by a massive restructuring to online (the first insurance system of its kind in Canada), then a move to desktop PCs and teleprocessing. He enjoyed traveling on Confed business to the U.K., the U.S., the Caribbean and South America. After 41 years of service, Don retired at age 63. Three years after his retirement, Confederation Life went into receivership. Thousands of employees who’d lost their jobs, as well as retirees and their spouses, were grateful to Don when he founded the Former Confed Employees Association and led the legal fight for their fair share of pension and benefits. He was as proud of that win as he was of his other career accomplishments.
Don enjoyed golfing in Sun City Center, Florida, and spending time with family at the cottage on Twelve Mile Lake.
Don leaves Shirley, his beloved wife of 65 years; their three children: Karen (Alex), Doug (Janet) and Donna; three grandchildren: Colin Fallis, and Kevin and Paul Belvedere; and brother Ernest Woolridge of St. John's. He will also be missed by Ruth and Frank Meaney and family.
A private family funeral has already taken place. A celebration of Don’s life will held in early July in Toronto. Donations in lieu of flowers are gratefully accepted in memory of Don Woolridge to the Frederick W. Thompson Centre at Sunnybrook Hospital Foundation.