The Honourable William "Bill" Rogers McIntyre, O.C., Q.C. was born in Lachine, Quebec on March 15, 1918 to Sidney and Pauline McIntyre and died peacefully in Victoria, BC on June 14, 2009. Bill was predeceased by Mimi, his beloved wife of 49 years; his daughter, Elizabeth Diamond and his sisters, Barbara, Jean and Eleanor Pilley (Trevor). He is survived by his brothers, Hugh and Jack; his son, John (Jennifer); his grandsons, Owen (Janelle Brewer) and Peter Diamond, Graham and Duncan McIntyre; his great-grandson, Mahlon Diamond and eight nieces and nephews. He has left his life-long friend and wife of seven years, Dorothy McCully Parkinson. After growing up in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Bill attended the University of Saskatchewan where he earned a law degree in 1941. He joined the army and after training at Gordon Head in Victoria was sent overseas. He landed in Sicily in 1943 with the 1st Canadian Division and served as an artillery officer in the campaigns in Sicily and Italy. Bill was enormously proud of the accomplishments of the Canadians in Sicily and Italy and of the men under his command. He often said that one of the most memorable and emotional events of his life was the Christmas of 1943 during the battle of Ortona. Bill returned to England in 1944 and finished the war as an Air Observation Pilot in North-West Europe. In 1944, Bill met and married Mimi Reeves and in 1945, Elizabeth was born. After the war the family settled in Victoria where John was born in 1948. Bill was admitted to the British Columbia Bar in 1947 and practiced law in Victoria until 1967 when he was appointed to the British Columbia Supreme Court and then in 1973 to the British Columbia Court of Appeal. In 1979, Bill was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada where he served for ten years. During his years in Ottawa, Bill made a point of selecting his law clerks from one of his old clients, the University of Victoria. He took great pleasure in teaching his clerks and his excellence was recognized by the University of Victoria when he was granted an honorary doctorate in 1993. Following his retirement from the Court, Bill returned to Vancouver where he continued to be active in the law as an advisor to fellow lawyers and a mentor to students. Throughout his life his love of the law, history, opera, literature, travel, spirited debate and good company earned him the respect and affection of countless friends and colleagues. A Memorial Service will be held in Victoria at the Gateway Baptist Church, 898 Royal Oak Avenue on Saturday, June 27 at 1:00 p.m. with a reception to follow at 3:00 p.m. at the Union Club, 805 Gordon Street, Victoria. A celebration of Bill's life will be held at a later date in Vancouver. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Salvation Army, the Law Library at the University of Victoria or to the Law Library at the University of Saskatchewan would be much appreciated. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mccallbros.com
McCall’s of Victoria, BC (1-800-870-4210)