Al Herriot died peacefully at the Perley and Rideau Veterans Health Centre, Ottawa on Friday September 8, 2023, age 98 years + 9 months. Al outlived his loving wife Hazel Herriot (nee: Glen) and also his son Charles. He is succeeded by his brother Norman (the late Jeanne), and son Glen (Linda).
Al loved his grandchildren and was a cherished grandfather of Micah, Ryan (Lindsay), Andrew (Maryam), David (Janet), and a great-grand father to Logan, Jackson, Finnegan, Corbin, Elwyn, Kian and Nora. Last month, Al was cartooning on a whiteboard with his great grandchildren, and reading an anthology book of poetry.
Al was born in southwest Saskatchewan and his parents with their five sons escaped the Dust Bowl by moving to the northern Saskatchewan bush. In WW2 he enlisted in the RCAF and was promoted to officer. He qualified both as a navigator and a pilot, stationed in Tofino BC, a base for anti-submarine patrols.
After the war he finished grade 12 and then studied engineering in Saskatoon, where he met Hazel. He worked at a mine in Flin Flon, northern Manitoba, but in 1954 moved south to Deep River, Ontario where it was warm enough to swim and grow a garden. Al worked in reactors at ‘the plant’ (Atomic Energy of Canada Limited) and retired in 1983.
He was a strong believer in community service and led efforts to fund facilities like the hockey rink and auditorium. As Legion President he emphasized charitable work besides running a social club. He really did deserve the term Renaissance man and studied science, sociology, literature, archeology, history and geography. He slept on six continents.
Al’s biggest enthusiasm was the natural world, especially botany, birds and the great outdoors, where he canoed thousands of kilometres. He was an athlete who captained softball teams and was a badminton champion of the Ottawa Valley.
A Funeral Service will be held in the Deep River Community Church on Saturday October 7, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be in the Deep River Community Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Deep River Hospital Foundation.
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