Andrew W. Fogarty

Andrew Fogarty was born in Ottawa, the fourth of five children of the late William and Theresa Fogarty. His mother, née Chartrand, admired Sir Wilfred Laurier, who died earlier in 1919, thus his middle name, Wilfred.

Andrew's g-grandfather Daniel Fogarty emigrated from Liscrea, near Thurles, Tipperary, Ireland, in 1822 along with several of his siblings. They settled in Fallowfield, west of Bytown, Upper Canada, following their maternal uncle Capt. G. Thew Burke, then on the staff of the Duke of Richmond. Eventually, Andrew’s father William moved to Ottawa in the early 20th century.

Andrew studied at St. Patrick School, was an alter server at St. Patrick’s Church and member of the Catholic Youth Organization. He graduated from the University of Ottawa, where he was also an active member of the Debating and Dramatic Society.

In the Ottawa University contingent C.O.T.C., Andrew graduated with the rank of 2nd Lieut. Infantry, and was seconded to the R.C.A.F. in equipment accounting and administration. In 1944 he was dispatched to Newfoundland and Labrador as Manager/Foreign

representative of the Canadian Government’s War Assets Corporation.

Shortly after arriving in St. John’s, Andrew witnessed the funeral procession for P.J. O’Neill, Chief of the Royal Nfld. Constabulary. Two years later, a member of Andrew’s own staff and son of the late Chief, introduced Andrew to his sister Mary, whom he married in June 1948. Mary had studied and worked in the USA, including as secretary to Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. Mary was Andrew’s true companion and love of his life until her death in Sept. 2011.

Upon completion of operations in Nfld., Andrew was transferred to War Assets Corp’s HQ in Montreal, where the newlyweds moved in late 1948. Always interested in the private sector, Andrew later joined the business world and held top executive positions in both the industrial and consumer fields, and for many years headed his own company importing specialized products from Ireland and the UK.

Andrew was recognized for his wit, insight, public speaking and mastery of proper meeting procedure through his numerous community activities. He was involved in several Montreal business organizations including as President of the Industrial Advertisers Association, and Board member of the Ad and Sales Club, the Ireland-Canada Chamber of Commerce, of the Eastern and National Boards of the British-Canadian Chamber of Commerce, and conducting numerous business seminars.

Involved in the English Catholic Community for over 60 years, Andrew was President or Board Member of nearly every organization. Among those, he was a founding Director of English-Speaking Catholic Council, Director of St. Patrick Square, with his wife Mary Cochair of St. Mary's Ball, and served on both the Foundation and Centre Boards of Lindsay Hospital and Father Dowd Home. Andrew was President of Catholic Community Services, and of the Foster Home Recruiting Centre, and was until very recently an active Trustee of Montreal St. Patrick's Foundation. As President of St. Patrick’s Society in 1983-85, Andrew opened membership to include women, and was granted its Community Award in 2016. He was a Warden of St. Brendan’s and of St. Edmund of Canterbury Parishes, where he long served as a lector as well.

Andrew enjoyed building bridges between organizations and was honoured when the Untied Irish Societies named him parade Chief Reviewing Officer in 1987, and Grand Marshall in 2013. The Erin Sports Association named him Montreal Irishman of the Year in 2017.

A Beaconsfield resident for years, Andrew was a founding Director of the Beacon Hill Swimming Pool Club. Active in junior hockey in his Ottawa days, he was also an avid tennis enthusiast there and in Montreal was President of the Mount Royal Tennis Club, which hosted the Davis Cup during his tenure.

Andrew was predeceased by his siblings Fr. Gerald (Msgr.), Hon. Kenneth (judge), Anna (teacher) and Beatrice (homemaker).

Andrew is survived by his sons Neill (late Barbara) and Stephen (Christine), daughter Loretta (Patrick), grandchildren Nicolas, Thomas, Andrew and Clare, g-grandchildren Henry and Milly, sister-in-law Colleen, and many nieces and nephews.

The family will receive condolences on Tuesday, March 3 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM and Wednesday, March 4 from 2:00 to 5:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 at Collins Clarke, driving address 27 Salisbury Avenue, Pointe-Claire, QC H9S 3Z2. Funeral Mass Thursday, March 5, 11:00 AM, St. Edmund of Canterbury Church, 105 Beaconsfield Blvd, Beaconsfield, QC H9W 3Z8. Reception to follow. Interment at Notre-Dame Cemetery, Ottawa, March 7, 10:45 AM.

A donation in Andrew’s name to the St. Gabriel’s Parish Christmas Basket Fund, 2157 Rue Centre, Montreal, QC, H3K 1J5 would be appreciated in lieu of flowers.