Obituary of Mervyn Mason

MASON, Mervyn Lawrence; Born October 4, 1929, the first of four children to Lawrence and Editha Mason, "Merv" passed away quietly at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto on May 25, 2014, due to complications of age, Parkinsons, and a fall. Merv loved life and had a brilliant mind. Raised in south-western Ontario, Merv graduated from high school in Tillsonburg and accepted a full scholarship to McMaster University where he studied bio chemistry and graduated with honours. While there, he met fellow student Shirley Lowden [deceased], and after graduation they married, settled in the Toronto area, and had three children, David, Hazel, and Nancy. After a short time as an "employee" at Polymer in Sarnia Ont (hired in part because the firm needed talent for its corporate softball team), Merv went on to own a drug and pharmaceutical company - H Powell Chemical and McCalpine Pharmaceutical, started a golf and country club - Palisades Golf & Country, achieved an MA and PhD. In his retirement he became a fixture at the Trinity College Tennis club in Toronto where he was the Court Steward and had been a member for almost 60 years. Merv is survived by children David Mason, Hazel Mason and Nancy Yarlett; grandchildren Shani Sztrigan (Hazel), Derek, Trevor and Kelsey Yarlett; and long-time partner Maija van Duynhoven and her family. He will be missed by many friends and relatives, including surviving brother Reg Mason (Donna). Our family expresses sincere thanks to the staff at Mount Sinai Hospital, and to everyone, including Merv's tennis family, for all of the recent support during a difficult time. Visitation will be held at THOMPSON-MOTT FUNERAL HOME, 62 Main St. N., Waterford, Ont., N0E 1Y0, Friday 1pm until service time at 2pm. Rev. Allan Burr officiating. Interment Greenwood Cemetery. Donations in lieu of flowers would be gratefully accepted by any charity of your choice.