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Alan Athey
November 6, 1926 - October 6, 2014
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<div itemprop="description">John Alan Bower Athey, P.Eng.<br />November 6, 1926 &ndash; October 6, 2014<br /><br /><br />Alan Athey passed away peacefully in his 88th year at the Credit Valley Hospital in Mississauga. Beloved husband of the late Isobel (nee Goodwin), he will be dearly missed by his children Brian (Nancy), Robert (Rhea), Claire and his eight grandchildren. <br /><br />Alan was born in Limerick, Ireland and raised by his parents Reverend Canon Rowland and Winifred in the village of Trim, County Meath. He attended King&rsquo;s Hospital boarding school and Trinity College Dublin, completing a Master&rsquo;s degree in chemistry.<br /><br />An adventurer at heart, at age 23 he signed on as a chemist on a whaling factory ship. Over the next 3 years he travelled to Antarctica, The Falkland&rsquo;s, Brazil and Labrador. In 1953 he immigrated to Canada and completed a master&rsquo;s degree in chemical engineering at the University of Toronto. One evening at a campus social event he met Isobel Goodwin, a nursing student from Glasgow, and they were married in May 1955.<br /><br />Alan had a successful 30 year career at Ontario Research Foundation where he specialized in research and testing of a wide range of consumer products. He developed a particular expertise as a textile consultant and lectured at several community colleges.<br /><br />Ever the outdoorsman, Canada presented a wealth of exploration opportunities to Alan. With his canoeing comrades, he embarked on annual adventures to destinations such as the Nahanni River, Baffin Island, northern Quebec and Labrador. Closer to home, he kept busy beekeeping, gardening, and canoeing the Credit River. His Irish lilt and &ldquo;gift of the gab&rdquo; opened up many neighbourhood doors.<br /><br />A kind and caring father and grandfather, he was affectionately known as JABA to grandkids Shona, Marissa, Kylyn, Brandon, Taryn, Andrew, Alistair and Kaileigh. He loved family gatherings and challenging his grandchildren with scientific and analytical puzzles.<br /><br />Our deepest thanks to the caring staff at Specialty Care, Mississauga and the palliative care unit of Credit Valley Hospital.<br /><br />Friends and family are invited to visit at Turner &amp; Porter (Neweduk-Erin Mills Chapel) 1981 Dundas St. W., Mississauga, on Wednesday October 8th, from 7 to 9 pm. Funeral service will be held on Thursday October 9 at 2:30 pm at St. Peter&rsquo;s Anglican Church, 1745 Dundas St. W, Mississauga. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Parkinson Society Canada.<br /></div>