In Celebration of
Ken Mayhew
February 3, 1966 - March 1, 2026
“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.”
— W. H. Murray, The Scottish Himalayan Expedition
It is with deep sorrow that we announce Ken's passing on March 1, 2026. He was surrounded by the love and warmth of his family, including his wife Suzanne, daughters Kate and Lia, mother Joan, brother Brian, sister Cathy, brother-in-law Darren, brother Keith and sister-in-law Dore. Ken will be dearly missed by his extended Mayhew and Allen families.
Ken lived his life with a big and generous heart, deep integrity, compassion, strength of character, and an incredible sense of humour. He lived as he danced –joyfully, enthusiastically, and with an eye to bringing everyone around him into the celebration.
Ken grew up in an incredibly close and fun-loving family in Mississauga. He played hockey and had a true passion for the game, even if his skill didn't match his enthusiasm! Family camping trips across the U.S. instilled a life-long love of the woods and mountains. Ken's dad, Jim, was his hero and Ken sought to emulate his dad’s commitment to ensuring his deeds spoke for themselves, in his life and in his work. Both of his parents provided the foundation for how he lived his life: family first, work hard and be generous with your friends – usually displayed through food and large social gatherings.
Ken's outstanding ability as an orator, inherited from his dad and storytelling grandfather, was recognized early. He served as both Student Council President and class Valedictorian at Port Credit Secondary School, and enjoyed participating in the Ontario Youth Parliament (OYP). Ken later graduated from the University of Toronto where the Phi Delta Theta fraternity provided roots for lifelong friendships.
Ken then joined the MS Society. Over the course of 20 years, he built his fundraising and leadership skills through various roles at the organization, ultimately becoming Chief Development Officer. He built exceptional teams and made lifelong friends. The impact of Ken's MS Society experience on his belief system cannot be overstated. He learned humility from senior volunteers who worked tirelessly to better the lives of people fighting the disease, and to support a more coordinated approach to research, all the while living with MS themselves. As a result, Ken was forever deeply inspired by those who demonstrated philanthropy, sacrifice, courage and generosity.
Ken’s commitment to lifelong learning coupled with his innate skill as a leader resulted in a career as an exceptional fundraiser, with enduring impacts at MS, as the President and CEO of William Osler Health System Foundation and as the Chair of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Ken liked to say, “I build hospitals,” even carrying a brick in his trunk to show donors what their contributions could achieve. He was proud to support the expansion of Osler’s spaces and community healthcare programs. Inspired by its clinicians and community builders, he valued his Foundation colleagues and volunteers, and found joy in building relationships across Brampton and Etobicoke. He also worked with elected officials to help bring first-class healthcare to one of Canada’s fastest-growing regions. Many clinical colleagues appreciated his presence and support during COVID, as he truly embodied the spirit of “Osler Strong.” Ken was fortunate to have found Osler – and Osler was fortunate to have found him.
For more on Ken's professional accomplishments and impact, please see William Osler Health System's online LinkedIn post and comments.
Please also see two beautiful tributes from AFP on afpglobal.org and hilborn-charityenews.
Alongside a highly successful career recognized through many accolades, what Ken was most proud of was his role as husband to his soulmate Suzanne, and as father to Kate and Lia. Ken loved his girls. His booming baritone could often be heard belting out "O Sole Mio" to the loves of his life.
Ken and Suzanne built a life filled with many friends whom they loved to host at countless BBQs. The years were marked by annual family trips to Vancouver, camping trips in Algonquin and on the west coast, ski trips to Quebec and canoe trips with friends in Ontario. He revelled in the beauty of the mountains – especially the view from the top of Whistler, shared at Christmas with 18 other Mayhews. He also found joy in his nightly walks by the Humber River, writing thank-you cards on a Sunday afternoon, compiling family photo calendars, and even cleaning out the garage (and fridge).
Everyone who knew Ken would say he was an incredible listener, with the uncanny ability of making you feel heard, like you were the most important person in the room. It was genuine. Ken helped to make the world a better place through not only his work, but through the generosity of his spirit. He leaves a space in our hearts that cannot be filled.
Words cannot begin to express our heartfelt thanks for the outstanding care that Ken received from Osler's Drs. Kirsten Perdrizet, Kash Irshad and Marian Chen, and from Trillium Health Partners’ Dr. Anthony Brade, along with their respective clinical teams. They provided exceptional care and compassion, facilitated by the everyday miracles of modern medicine. We do not underestimate the courage required to work in oncology and we, as a family, are endlessly grateful.
A private celebration of life will be held in early April for family and friends, followed by an Osler event in the spring, by invitation.
Please consider a donation in Ken's honour at either Osler or the Canadian Cancer Society for esophageal cancer research.
— W. H. Murray, The Scottish Himalayan Expedition
It is with deep sorrow that we announce Ken's passing on March 1, 2026. He was surrounded by the love and warmth of his family, including his wife Suzanne, daughters Kate and Lia, mother Joan, brother Brian, sister Cathy, brother-in-law Darren, brother Keith and sister-in-law Dore. Ken will be dearly missed by his extended Mayhew and Allen families.
Ken lived his life with a big and generous heart, deep integrity, compassion, strength of character, and an incredible sense of humour. He lived as he danced –joyfully, enthusiastically, and with an eye to bringing everyone around him into the celebration.
Ken grew up in an incredibly close and fun-loving family in Mississauga. He played hockey and had a true passion for the game, even if his skill didn't match his enthusiasm! Family camping trips across the U.S. instilled a life-long love of the woods and mountains. Ken's dad, Jim, was his hero and Ken sought to emulate his dad’s commitment to ensuring his deeds spoke for themselves, in his life and in his work. Both of his parents provided the foundation for how he lived his life: family first, work hard and be generous with your friends – usually displayed through food and large social gatherings.
Ken's outstanding ability as an orator, inherited from his dad and storytelling grandfather, was recognized early. He served as both Student Council President and class Valedictorian at Port Credit Secondary School, and enjoyed participating in the Ontario Youth Parliament (OYP). Ken later graduated from the University of Toronto where the Phi Delta Theta fraternity provided roots for lifelong friendships.
Ken then joined the MS Society. Over the course of 20 years, he built his fundraising and leadership skills through various roles at the organization, ultimately becoming Chief Development Officer. He built exceptional teams and made lifelong friends. The impact of Ken's MS Society experience on his belief system cannot be overstated. He learned humility from senior volunteers who worked tirelessly to better the lives of people fighting the disease, and to support a more coordinated approach to research, all the while living with MS themselves. As a result, Ken was forever deeply inspired by those who demonstrated philanthropy, sacrifice, courage and generosity.
Ken’s commitment to lifelong learning coupled with his innate skill as a leader resulted in a career as an exceptional fundraiser, with enduring impacts at MS, as the President and CEO of William Osler Health System Foundation and as the Chair of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Ken liked to say, “I build hospitals,” even carrying a brick in his trunk to show donors what their contributions could achieve. He was proud to support the expansion of Osler’s spaces and community healthcare programs. Inspired by its clinicians and community builders, he valued his Foundation colleagues and volunteers, and found joy in building relationships across Brampton and Etobicoke. He also worked with elected officials to help bring first-class healthcare to one of Canada’s fastest-growing regions. Many clinical colleagues appreciated his presence and support during COVID, as he truly embodied the spirit of “Osler Strong.” Ken was fortunate to have found Osler – and Osler was fortunate to have found him.
For more on Ken's professional accomplishments and impact, please see William Osler Health System's online LinkedIn post and comments.
Please also see two beautiful tributes from AFP on afpglobal.org and hilborn-charityenews.
Alongside a highly successful career recognized through many accolades, what Ken was most proud of was his role as husband to his soulmate Suzanne, and as father to Kate and Lia. Ken loved his girls. His booming baritone could often be heard belting out "O Sole Mio" to the loves of his life.
Ken and Suzanne built a life filled with many friends whom they loved to host at countless BBQs. The years were marked by annual family trips to Vancouver, camping trips in Algonquin and on the west coast, ski trips to Quebec and canoe trips with friends in Ontario. He revelled in the beauty of the mountains – especially the view from the top of Whistler, shared at Christmas with 18 other Mayhews. He also found joy in his nightly walks by the Humber River, writing thank-you cards on a Sunday afternoon, compiling family photo calendars, and even cleaning out the garage (and fridge).
Everyone who knew Ken would say he was an incredible listener, with the uncanny ability of making you feel heard, like you were the most important person in the room. It was genuine. Ken helped to make the world a better place through not only his work, but through the generosity of his spirit. He leaves a space in our hearts that cannot be filled.
Words cannot begin to express our heartfelt thanks for the outstanding care that Ken received from Osler's Drs. Kirsten Perdrizet, Kash Irshad and Marian Chen, and from Trillium Health Partners’ Dr. Anthony Brade, along with their respective clinical teams. They provided exceptional care and compassion, facilitated by the everyday miracles of modern medicine. We do not underestimate the courage required to work in oncology and we, as a family, are endlessly grateful.
A private celebration of life will be held in early April for family and friends, followed by an Osler event in the spring, by invitation.
Please consider a donation in Ken's honour at either Osler or the Canadian Cancer Society for esophageal cancer research.