September 09, 2021
It is with heartfelt sadness that we announce the passing of Len McDougall at the Teresa Dellar Palliative Care Residence.
He leaves behind his best friend and wife of 57 years Nancy Walters McDougall, their children Bob (Catherine), Jennifer (the late Robert), Alison (Kevin) and Susan (Frank). His beloved grandchildren Jordan (Amanda), Eric, Adrianne, Jacob, Michael, Jeremy (Catalina) and Alex.
Len was born to Donald and Hildred in Montreal on October 22, 1938, the seventh of eight children, Albert, John, Gerald, Donald, Mary, Helen and Veronica. At a very young age, the family moved to Montebello where his obsession for all sports began, in particular for tennis, golf and his Montreal Canadiens. Len attended McGill University where he excelled in hockey and making lifelong friends before embarking on a successful career with Canada Life.
Len loved his family, many friends, cold beer and all his dogs. Len’s passions included travel, golf trips, lunch with his buddies, his home in Florida and fundraising, in particular, TDPCR Annual Golf Tournament.
Len was always there to brighten the lives of others, share a story and lend a hand.
Len will be remembered by his incredible sense of humour, inquisitive demeanour and love for life. Len was a good man. We will miss him.
Eulogy by Dave Copp
Nancy, thank you for asking me to say a few words about Len, your soulmate and my long-time friend. I used to think that 63 years was old age but that is the length of time of my friendship with Len.
Living 7 hours away in Guelph – we didn’t get together very often but when we did, we picked up trading barbs and stories like it was yesterday. We did stay in touch by phone and e-mail and we did get together once or twice a year for golf and dinner. This was doable when we spent July at our cottage in the Laurentians. We also visited each other in Florida, but again we were on the East coast about 5 hours from Len and Nancy in Ft Myers.
We first met in Montebello, Len’s hometown when we both had summer jobs at the Seigniory Club – now the Chateau Montebello. He was the tennis instructor and I taught swimming. As employees, we had a great fringe benefit – playing golf at the Club’s Stanley Thompson course for the princely sum of $17 – for the entire season. We took full advantage playing 12 to 14 holes most days until it got dark.
The ball field in Montebello had good lights and we played fastball there about 3 nights a week. We had a local league but we branched out with an all-star team playing teams from Lachute, Hawkesbury and Vankleek Hill. We entered a tournament in Gatineau, playing Senior teams from Ottawa and Hull and we won the tournament 2 years in a row – the last year a 15 inning 2-1 thriller with Len scoring the winning run. We were a bit of a ragamuffin crew, wearing our O’Keefe Brewery jerseys and jeans. The other teams had uniforms and ball caps – but we did OK.
After the game, we drove back to Montebello to celebrate and we blew all the prize money at the Commercial Hotel – our stomping grounds – but as Tug McGraw said when asked how he had spent his $100,000 salary – he said “about $80,000 on booze and broads – and the rest I wasted”. We didn’t waste any!
There are a lot more Montebello stories that are better left untold but an important one for me is that it was there that Len introduced me to my late wife Joan Ann. She and Len played tennis together but I got them interested in golf – among other things.
I recruited Len to attend McGill and play hockey. We had a fieldhouse accommodation for athletes where they could live for $45 for the entire school year. It was a pretty spartan dwelling but the “rent” gave them clean sheets once a week. This accommodation suited Len’s budget and also allowed him to make many life-long friends playing hockey for the Redmen.
Len went on to a long and successful career in the insurance business. His low-key approach to sales and his genuine honesty must have endeared him to his clients.
Len loved to trash talk. At least half the fun in playing Old Timers hockey is the banter in the dressing room. I think it is the part that I miss the most.
It must have been a ribald dressing room with the NDG Old Timers with Len exchanging barbs with the likes of Al Beaubien, Jocko, Warren the sieve, Jeff Ball and others.
Len also had a kind and caring side. My wife Linda and I were out to dinner with Len and Nancy shortly after Linda’s mom had passed away. Linda had the opportunity to attend a Palliative Care Conference in Amsterdam with a nursing classmate and we were discussing the trip over dinner. Len asked a number of questions about the trip, appearing very interested in the details. Well, when Linda and her friend arrived at the KLM desk to check-in, Len had arranged through his client KLM, to bump the girls to First Class – a typical Len gesture – working behind the scenes to surprise and do a kind deed without a lot of fanfare. Needless to say, the girls were ecstatic and grateful to Len.
Being with Len always guaranteed laughs and reminiscing about old times. Usually, when we played golf, it was at Royal Montreal but 2 years ago he suggested we get together to play Montebello where our friendship started. I knew Len was struggling with health issues although he seldom talked about it unless asked directly. He remained optimistic and had confidence in his health care team which of course included endless support from Nancy.
I felt the day was somewhat bittersweet because I could sense that he was feeling that this would be our last game – and it was.
I will miss his trash talk, his great sense of humour, his hearty laugh and big smile. While he enjoyed joking and sparing about our younger days, deep down he was a caring loyal friend and a devoted family man and husband who lived a Christian Life. I knew that if ever I needed a shoulder to lean on or a favour to ask, I could call on Len and he would oblige.
As the Irish Proverb states “a good friend is like a four-leaf clover – hard to find and lucky to have“.
Rest in Peace, my friend.
Eulogy by Ken Steward
Kenny and Len!
Not often do we get the chance to celebrate and speak about one person who has demonstrated honesty, integrity, kindness, generosity and love their whole life but today we can as we CELEBRATE Len McDougall. When I went to see Nancy a few days ago, to discuss the Celebration of Len’s life, their son Bob showed me something special he had on his phone and I would like to share it with you.
American writer Ralph Waldo Emerson, said: “The purpose of life is … to be useful, to be honourable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well. To find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”
Len really succeeded!
Len’s real loves were Nancy, the perfect love of his life, his children Bob, Jennifer, Alison and Susan, his 7 grandchildren, his many friends and his charity work.
My most recent memory of his love for Nancy was a couple weeks ago when I came to pick him up for lunch. Nancy asked him “do you have your keys and wallet?” Len growled, “Quit bugging me Nancy, of course I have them.” Nancy rolled her eyes toward me. He then turned and gave her a big smooch, smiled, turned to me and winked and gave her another kiss. As he settled into his seat in my car, he said “I am so lucky to have Nancy looking after me for 57 years.”
There was hardly a day that we spent together that he didn’t tell me a story or anecdote about a member of his family, his children or grandkids! He shared his love and pride in all of you with me.
Fortunately, we had lunch a few weeks ago and a gang of his Royal Montreal golfing buddies showed up and when he got home he said “I am so lucky to have such great friends” and to see them today was so very special. Really, it was us who were lucky to have him as our friend.
We started our volunteering together doing deliveries of donated goods between Nova Thrift stores for several years and I could never figure out why Len always carried the small designer lamps in and I got to carry the large box of hardcover books.
We got a call that the West Island Cancer Wellness building in Beaurepaire needed painting and we said we were in for the job. We met Debbie Magwood, fell in love with her story and service and Len recruited several of our Royal Montreal Golfing friends and we tackled the project. Before the second day of painting, when I arrived early, there was Len changing the 2 lights at the front door! I was a little concerned about Len having live electrical wires in his hands and I asked him where he got the lights and he said “I went to Canadian Tire and bought them last night.” After he finished installing them, he turned to me and said “doesn’t that look better?” With Len, it had to be perfect and it was. Our lovely painted yellow house was a beacon for cancer patients and their families.
Years later Len, with the help and support of Bill Ferguson, raised one million dollars to help the West Island Cancer Wellness Center build a new and bigger Center on Rue du Barry in Kirkland. The newer, larger painted yellow house is a great service today for cancer patients.
Len with the Len McDougall Trophy – August 30, 2021
Len then got involved with the now Teresa Dellar Palliative Care Residence and teamed up with Ted Fletcher and Jessica Newey putting his heart and soul into organizing a fabulous golf tournament that raised $605,000 a couple of weeks ago. Len was able to go and share in the record results that evening and be so rightfully recognized. He had mustered up all his strength possible to get there and show how much he loved and cared for the organization and the people who supported it and when he arrived, he was celebrated like the Rock Star he was!!
When his good friend Rudy Erfle had his first Run for Parkinson’s disease, I got the call to be at the venue site at 6:30 am and Len and his son Bob and I were going to help set it up and assist during the day which we did successfully and that charity event is still going today! There was never a friend that Len would not help.
Each organization I volunteer with today, Len was my partner, my teacher and my inspiration and I was so proud just to be his wingman!
Today, I am a better person because of my friendship with Len.
We had a major disagreement a month ago and we hung up on each other and after each of us getting a good talking to from Nancy and Cathy, he phoned early the next morning and left a message to apologize – he had beat me to it! Not satisfied to make a phone apology, I jumped in my car and drove over to his home and he was down the street walking his beloved dog Barely. As I pulled up beside him and got out of my car, he told Barely “stay away from that miserable old man” but as we got closer, we started to laugh! We wrapped our arms around each other in the middle of the street and said how much we cared for and loved each other. This was a giant of a man amongst men that I am privileged to call my friend and I will never forget how much he cared for and loved my wife Cathy.
When you leave today, please take a moment to remember a kind, positive, generous, caring thing that Len did with you or for you and smile.
Today, PLEASE celebrate your relationship with this wonderful man.
RIP LENNY
Gone and Never Forgotten
Dad, not a day goes by that I don't think of you and wish we could have one more round, one more hug or one more conversation. I have things to tell you. I need your advice.
I miss you. Love you - see you soon!
- Bob ❤️
