Obituary for Michael John HENNESSY
Hennessy, Michael John passed away peacefully on Saturday May 23, 2020 in his 95th year.
Beloved husband to Daphne for 67 years. Predeceased by his parents John and Alma, and his brother Patrick, New Zealand. Survived by his sister Chante, British Columbia. Proud father of Wayne, and his wife Diane (Markham), of Fonthill, and Craig, and his wife Trish (Arts), of Egmondville. Loving grandfather of Matthew, Nathan, Gillian, Hannah, Alysha (Joel Wellington) and Jessica. Great grandfather to Findley, Piper and Felix. Special Uncle to many nieces and nephews and their families from Ontario to British Columbia and New Zealand.
Michael was born on November 11, 1925 in Kajang, Malaysia and moved to Christchurch, England at a young age, shortly after his father passed away.
Michael attended boarding school with his brother Patrick, and enlisted early, to serve in the Allied Combined Forces during WWII, where he was posted to a converted aircraft carrier, HMS Battler, stationed in the Indian Ocean.
After the war he returned to England where he studied to become an engineer and where he met and eventually married the love of his life Daphne, on July 25, 1953.
Several years later he managed to talk Daphne into immigrating to Canada, the first of their many adventures. They travelled to New York on the SS Queen Mary (the first one), and then made their way to London, Ontario where they settled and started their family.
In 1967 they moved to Ingersoll where he managed the Moto-Mower facility for several years and eventually changed careers to become an educator at Fanshawe College in the Business faculty. During this time, he was also very involved in the Ingersoll Optimist Club, eventually becoming President, supporting youth and other causes in the community.
At age 65 he retired from Fanshawe and he took a teaching position in Abu Dhabi at the Women’s Campus of Higher Colleges of Technology. Over the next two years, Michael and Daphne travelled around the world several times, while coming back and forth for vacations at the cottage every summer. While in Abu Dhabi, he received the Founder’s Award for his services to the school.
On their return from Abu Dhabi, Michael and Daphne again settled in Ingersoll and Michael started his next career in town politics. His ‘Worship’ served two terms as Town Councillor and two terms as Mayor and championed long-term fiscal sustainability and infrastructure renewal as his primary concerns.
Just shy of his 80th year, Michael gave up politics and decided to retire again. However, he soon found himself involved with a few Boards and programs, the Lunch Bunch, the Ingersoll Center for Seniors, the Library Board, the Ingersoll Foundation to name a few and most recently he was a member of the Oxford Patient Family Advisory Committee, working for the betterment of hospital patient services in Oxford County.
In 2004 he was honoured by being named Ingersoll Citizen of the Year by the Ingersoll District Chamber of Commerce.
He enjoyed working with his hands and became an accomplished wood carver in his later years, while enjoying time with all his ‘wood carving buddies’ at the Seniors Center.
The two constants in his life were the cottage at Hillsborough and his family. He fell in love with the cottage in the early 1960’s and was never happier than when he was offering gin and tonics on the deck, surrounded by family and friends.
Cremation has taken place and a celebration of life will occur later.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Ingersoll Centre for Seniors or a charity of your choice would be appreciated.
Arrangements entrusted to the McBeath-Dynes Funeral Home 246 Thames Street South, Ingersoll 519-425-1600.
Personal condolences may be sent at www.mcbeathdynes.ca
Beloved husband to Daphne for 67 years. Predeceased by his parents John and Alma, and his brother Patrick, New Zealand. Survived by his sister Chante, British Columbia. Proud father of Wayne, and his wife Diane (Markham), of Fonthill, and Craig, and his wife Trish (Arts), of Egmondville. Loving grandfather of Matthew, Nathan, Gillian, Hannah, Alysha (Joel Wellington) and Jessica. Great grandfather to Findley, Piper and Felix. Special Uncle to many nieces and nephews and their families from Ontario to British Columbia and New Zealand.
Michael was born on November 11, 1925 in Kajang, Malaysia and moved to Christchurch, England at a young age, shortly after his father passed away.
Michael attended boarding school with his brother Patrick, and enlisted early, to serve in the Allied Combined Forces during WWII, where he was posted to a converted aircraft carrier, HMS Battler, stationed in the Indian Ocean.
After the war he returned to England where he studied to become an engineer and where he met and eventually married the love of his life Daphne, on July 25, 1953.
Several years later he managed to talk Daphne into immigrating to Canada, the first of their many adventures. They travelled to New York on the SS Queen Mary (the first one), and then made their way to London, Ontario where they settled and started their family.
In 1967 they moved to Ingersoll where he managed the Moto-Mower facility for several years and eventually changed careers to become an educator at Fanshawe College in the Business faculty. During this time, he was also very involved in the Ingersoll Optimist Club, eventually becoming President, supporting youth and other causes in the community.
At age 65 he retired from Fanshawe and he took a teaching position in Abu Dhabi at the Women’s Campus of Higher Colleges of Technology. Over the next two years, Michael and Daphne travelled around the world several times, while coming back and forth for vacations at the cottage every summer. While in Abu Dhabi, he received the Founder’s Award for his services to the school.
On their return from Abu Dhabi, Michael and Daphne again settled in Ingersoll and Michael started his next career in town politics. His ‘Worship’ served two terms as Town Councillor and two terms as Mayor and championed long-term fiscal sustainability and infrastructure renewal as his primary concerns.
Just shy of his 80th year, Michael gave up politics and decided to retire again. However, he soon found himself involved with a few Boards and programs, the Lunch Bunch, the Ingersoll Center for Seniors, the Library Board, the Ingersoll Foundation to name a few and most recently he was a member of the Oxford Patient Family Advisory Committee, working for the betterment of hospital patient services in Oxford County.
In 2004 he was honoured by being named Ingersoll Citizen of the Year by the Ingersoll District Chamber of Commerce.
He enjoyed working with his hands and became an accomplished wood carver in his later years, while enjoying time with all his ‘wood carving buddies’ at the Seniors Center.
The two constants in his life were the cottage at Hillsborough and his family. He fell in love with the cottage in the early 1960’s and was never happier than when he was offering gin and tonics on the deck, surrounded by family and friends.
Cremation has taken place and a celebration of life will occur later.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Ingersoll Centre for Seniors or a charity of your choice would be appreciated.
Arrangements entrusted to the McBeath-Dynes Funeral Home 246 Thames Street South, Ingersoll 519-425-1600.
Personal condolences may be sent at www.mcbeathdynes.ca