Linlay James Forsyth: In his 97th year, passed away peacefully surrounded by his children at Credit Valley Hospital on August 6th, 2021. Linlay is survived by his son Andrew (Dorothy) , daughter Veronica LeMay( Allan) and grandchildren, Tania, Christopher and Alexa Forsyth as well as family in the UK.
Linlay was a man who was happiest when all was in order his way. His mindset for engineering and management organization spoke to his inner self. He liked to lead and share his passion for history, moral rights and symmetry.
Born on June 29, 1924, in Dudley, Worcestershire to Amelia (Millie) Rudall and James Ravenscroft Forsyth as their only child, Linlay was educated at St. Chad’s College, Wolverhampton and the Dudley & Staff. Technical College. During WWII, while still studying, he served as an Air Raid Warden and apprenticed at Boulton-Paul Aircraft. At the end of the War, after serving as a mechanical draftsman at Wilmot-Breeden Aircraft, Linlay moved to Bristol Aircraft as a design draftsman in 1945 working on the Brabazon and Britannia.
In 1947, Linlay married Mary Fitzgerald (deceased 20 October 2007) in Wednesbury Staffs. In 1952, he led his young family on a bold and adventurous move to Canada. He joined Canadair Ltd. in Montreal, working initially as a design engineer and ultimately as a design manager. During that time, he participated in various ground-breaking projects, among them the CL-28 Argus Submarine Hunter, CL-44 swing-tail freighter, the experimental CL-84 Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft, CL-89 Surveillance Drone and preliminary conceptual work on the CL-227 advanced coaxial rotary winged (VTOL) Remotely Piloted Vehicle system. Subsequently he became the Manager of Human Resources for Engineering.
In 1974, Linlay became the Director of Human Resource Planning and Development for Northern Telecom based in Montreal. In 1978 he moved with Mary to Mississauga as Director of Corporate Administration for Nortel overseeing development of standards for the company’s expanding North American footprint. He retired from that position in 1987.
He and Mary enjoyed his retirement at their home in Mississauga with frequent trips to Europe and visits to family in the UK. Linlay was active with self-learned computer and early-day internet skills that allowed him to research genealogy in particular for the family lineage. He published the book FORSYTH FAMILY ORIGINS, EARLY HISTORY in 2012 and prior to that initiated the creation of the Canadian branch of the Clan Forsyth Society. In her declining years, Linlay was the primary care giver to Mary, a task that was all encompassing to her last days.
Linlay was a devote Catholic and an influential participant in many community and religious based organizations over his lifetime; from his early days with the Boy Scouts and Knights of Columbus in the UK to his involvement with the Parish Councils at Our Lady of Fatima in St. Laurent, The Christian Family Movement, The Catholic & Religious Education Centre and Pillars Trust Foundation in Montreal. He was engaged with the local parish, St. Francis of Assisi up until his last day. He foresaw and, as witnessed by the list of organizations above, actively worked to implement the constitutions set out for the laity in the Second Vatican Council.
Many thanks to Dr. Nguyen and Dr. Tadkase and her team at CVH as well as the Bayshore Healthcare PSWs who looked after him at home with attention and understanding.
Cremation has taken place. A private memorial mass will be held for family and invited guests on Friday August 20, 2021. In lieu of flowers please donate to a charity of your choice.