David Harold Carr

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of David Harold Carr on July 8, 2023. He will be dearly missed by his loving wife, Marilyn (nee Gower), his four children, Geoffrey, John, Andrew, and Hilary (Diane), their spouses Judy, Madeleine, Pamela, and Farid, his eleven grandchildren, David Jr., Gabrielle, Jonathan, Allysha, Scott, Averly, Benjamin, Anissa, Mariam, Lucas, and Adam, and great-grandchildren Colton and Capri, among many other family and friends.

Born in Toronto on May 10, 1933 to Mary Haydon Carr (nee Purchase) and Harold Carr, younger brother to Jack, Dave attended Norway Public School, Riverdale and East York Collegiate. He sang in the church choir and at 12 years old was thrilled to perform on live radio. He excelled in school and in public speaking. He met Marilyn at St. John’s Norway Anglican church in Toronto over 70 years ago. They celebrated 67 years of marriage last month.

Dave valued higher education and attended accountancy and business programs at McGill University, the University of Toronto and Concordia University. He became a certified member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario in 1958 and then the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Quebec in 1966. He worked as treasurer for Lepage’s Adhesives before being hired by Urwick Currie as a management consultant, who offered him the opportunity to move to Montreal in 1965. He and Marilyn landed in Baie d’Urfe before finally settling three years later in St. Lambert.

In 1966, Dave’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to start a unique seasonal business whose aim was to beautify the downtown streets of Montreal in summer with outdoor flower wagons. He overcame obstacles and challenges obtaining permits from the city and landed one of his first locations on the plaza of the iconic Place Ville Marie building. Marilyn somewhat reluctantly became his business partner and together, they grew their small enterprise. Dave took a job as treasurer at Modernfold Doors in St. Lambert for a time while Marilyn ran the flower business. It has since grown to become a very successful florist in the heart of Montreal, now adeptly run by the next generation.

Dave was an avid sports fan and he loved to curl, play hockey and golf. He hung up his hockey skates at 75 years of age, after having founded the Gerihatricks in 2003, a league for those over 65. He played his last round of golf at 89 and enjoyed playing cribbage until the very end. He was both lucky at cards and lucky in love.

David passed away in the comfort of the family home he shared with Marilyn for over 55 years, surrounded and cared for by his loving and devoted wife, all of their children, their spouses and many of their grandchildren. He had enjoyed a family celebration in honour of his 90th birthday just one week before his passing, where over 50 relatives from as far away as BC, Ontario, Spain and Germany attended. He relished family gatherings over the years and was endlessly proud of his children and grandchildren.

The family wishes to thank the many health care professionals and support staff who have accompanied him in these last months, especially: Dr. Paré-Plante, Dr Caroline Michel and her team (Angie, Jonathan, Delina), the CLSC Samuel de Champlain nurses, (Audrey, Anne-Josée) respiratory therapists (Manon, Laurianne), attendants and palliative home care team, (Debbie, Marjorie).

Family and friends will be welcome at the interment of his ashes at St. Johns Norway cemetery in Toronto followed by a reception, scheduled for September 30.

If you feel so inclined, in lieu of flowers, a donation to the Jewish General Hospital cardiology department or to the Charles Lemoyne Hospital would be appreciated.