William James Perkins

His favourite poet once wrote, “Do not go gentle into that good night, Rage, Rage against the dying of the light.” Dad, Gramps, Bill, The Perk, Sarge, the King of the Rock Pile, of Ingramport, Nova Scotia and Toronto, left us February 24th in his 91st year in Halifax, living the words of Dylan Thomas every single day.

Fond of saying he was “a student of the human condition,” he sought meaning in his relationships with family, friends and business associates by seeking an understanding of “what made them tick” to further know himself. While life led to a career in business, at which he excelled through drive and brilliance, an artistic longing through literary expression instilled in him by his mother, Elizabeth Higgins Perkins, drove his thirst for reading, writing and knowledge. He had an impressive ability with the quote for the occasion from the great poets, Dickens, the classics, Shakespeare and song. He loved literature and was a graceful writer himself. His love of live theatre he imbued in his children.

The first born during the depression era in Toronto in 1932, six other siblings followed. His formative years were influenced tremendously growing up in wartime Halifax, peacetime Kentville, his time at Kings County Academy and his athletic career at Queen Elizabeth High School in Halifax. Inseparable as children and adults, he was with his younger brother Reg.

Disdainful of sycophants and obsequiousness, dedicated to saying what he believed, as Hamlet said, “to thine own self be true.”

Bill started gainful employment after high school as an office boy where he read every letter and memo so he could to learn the business and propel himself forward, while repossessing the delinquent vehicles for IAC. At Industrial Acceptance Corporation he rose rapidly being transferred to Montreal at 20, left IAC to try and become a pilot in the RCAF. When that dream was not realized he returned to Halifax and joined Traders Group where he met Rosemarie Borgald. The were married in 1955 and had four children and moved 11 times during his career. He wrote that his children gave him great joy, and as adults, great admiration.

His career at Traders grew from Branch Manager at 24 in Nova Scotia to Vice President of Traders based in Toronto. After 21 years with Traders, he left to become an executive officer and a director of the Central and Eastern Trust Company in Halifax from 1974-79. He left Central and from 1979-84 held senior executive positions with Guaranty Trust at their Toronto head office. He retired in 1995 as a Vice-President of Montreal Trust Company having worked for them in both Montreal and Toronto.

While work brought him many lifelong friendships, retirement brought him the time to pursue his passion of golf, the pure swing and the dreaded yips. A Member of Ashburn Golf Club in Nova Scotia, and for more than three decades of Scarboro Golf & Country Club, he could be found most days on the range perfecting his swing. King of the rock pile he was so named by fellow members. Club Pro Ken Fulton preferred to call him Sarge after a tour pro that similarly agonized over his game and had been in the Army. He won the Scarboro G&C JP Arnott championship in 1999 and was awarded his ubiquitous green jacket worn with pride. His three circles of golf comradery included the Scarboro gang, the annual true Links “once in a lifetime” golf gang and the Doral Group.

The great golf tracks of the world were graced by Bill’s game from Pebble Beach to Cabot Links, Carnoustie, Royal Port Rush, Muirfield, and Ballybunion. Six times he played the Old Course at St. Andrews. A rare privilege anytime, but his boys Bill and Rick each got to play the old Course twice each with Bill. Memories precious to all of them.

Pascal said, “The heart has its reasons, which reason cannot know.” Bill had heart. Inherited heart disease would not stop him. A heart attack at 44, he was determined to not let that control his life. He ran and completed the New York City marathon in 1986. Four years later he had a heart by-pass. His determined recovery was to do it again, and he did completing New York a second time in 1994. The true measure of his character.

Summer holidays with the family were road trips to Halifax, to East Paradise in the Valley or Toronto. But some years, with the children in tow, driving to tour the battlefields of the US Civil War fulfilled his fascination with this part of history instilling a sense of the need to understand the past in his family.

Over his last decade or so he split his time between Toronto and Ingramport, Nova Scotia connecting with friends and enjoying life with his family. Contemplating life with a whisky or beer in hand, overlooking the ocean at St. Margaret’s Bay; meeting the golf buddies at the Owl Pub in Markham for a pint; hitting balls on a range; playing golf in Canada, the US and Great Britain; and enjoying the simple pleasures of cooking a good meal; all led to a happy and satisfying retirement of an exceptional life.

Bill leaves a deep hole in the lives of his surviving children Deborah (Syd Maskell-deceased) Timberlea, Nova Scotia; Richard (Wendy), Ingramport, Nova Scotia; Steven (Kellie) Keswick, Ontario; as well as grandchildren Katie, Will, Scott, Evan, Ashley and Stephanie. Bill is also survived by nine great-grandchildren. Four of Bill’s siblings also survived him, Reg, Margaret, Doris and Kathleen. He was predeceased by his wife of 67 years Rosemarie Borgald of Chester Basin, Nova Scotia; His eldest son William (Cathie, Sally); his parents Reginald and Elizabeth (Higgins) Perkins, and younger brothers David and John. As per his wishes, cremation has taken place and a celebration of life will be held later.