William (Bill) Hardy McIlwaine

William (Bill) Hardy McIlwaine of Cambridge passed away peacefully on December 31st at the Lisaard House hospice in Cambridge.

Born in Toronto on October 2nd, 1938; he was the son of the late Clara (Hardy) and Samuel McIlwaine. He moved with his parents to Somerset, England in his youth and attended Wellington School as a teenager where he excelled at rugby and the decathlon. He returned to Canada and attended the University of New Brunswick, eventually completing his MSc in Geology. He moved with his young family to Thunder Bay in 1970 to pursue his geology career. Here he renewed his passion for track and field as a long time member of the Thunder Bay Striders, competing as a Masters athlete around the world for several decades where he set a National record in the M55 400m. He became a tireless sports volunteer in Thunder Bay; organizing gymnastics competitions, refereeing volleyball, officiating in track meets. He maintained this volunteer spirit after his retirement eventually moved back to Southern Ontario in 1997. He then became a member of Etobicoke Track Club and was their Administrator until 2012. He also was highly involved in Canadian Masters Athletics and Ontario Masters Athletics Boards. He was inducted into the Canadian Masters Athletics Hall of Fame in 2024 for all his administrative work with CMA. His later years were spent travelling and competing along side his wife Katherine which including numerous trips back to England for reunions at Wellington School spending time with his cherished lifelong friends.

Bill is survived by his beloved wife Katherine Willis and her sons Scott (Kelsey) and Lee; son Stephen McIlwaine (Allison) and daughters Susan McIlwaine and Heather Crocker and their children Charlotte, Declen, Kira, Gillian and Samuel. His brother John McIlwaine predeceased him.

At Bill’s request, no services will be held. Donations in Bill’s memory can be made to the Cambridge Memorial Hospital or the Lisaard House hospice facility in Cambridge.

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