Lt. Wilfred A. Curtis II (Aug 30, 1928 — Jan 19, 2015)

Lieutenant-Colonel Wilfred A. Curtis II, CD was the son of Air Marshall Wilfred Austin Curtis and Pearl Burford, concert pianist, and the brother of Glenn H. Cur s and the late Rhonna Curtis. He was married to the late Manon Fauteux, mother of their six children; Wilfred III, Gerald, Michelle, Charles, Danielle, and Patrick, the grandfather of nine and the great-grandfather of five. He enjoyed 10 wonderful years with Manon before the marriage ended in divorce, after which he raised the family as a single parent. 

Educated at Trinity College School and Royal Roads Military College, he was an airman from 1947-1957 flying Vampire and F-86 Sabre Jet fighter planes and commanding 400 Squadron and was named Honorary Lieutenant Colonel of the squadron from 1977-1979. For 10 years he was a member of the Board of Governors of the Corps of Commissionaires, helping ex-service people find employment post-military life. He operated a successful family insurance brokerage for 40 years. 

Retiring at age 60, he moved permanently to his cottage on Kahshe, where he took great pleasure from his flower gardens. From early childhood, the cottage was a place of solace and peace for him. In his early 60s, he remarried to Gwen Vernon, widow of his best friend Dr. Peter Vernon, who had died many years before. Although the marriage did not work out, they remained friends. 

In 1995 he joined the Board of Directors at South Muskoka Memorial Hospital in Bracebridge, became Chairman of the Board in 2000, and led the team that realized the construction of a $24 million expansion project. He also was a life member of the Badminton and Racquet Club of Toronto, where he enjoyed playing bridge regularly in later years. Wilf was larger than life. He was a wonderful father, brother, and friend, with a great sense of humour and he will be greatly missed.