George Burbidge

On September 14, 2022, George F. Burbidge peacefully passed away surrounded by his wife, Jenifer and his 4 children Jessica (Adam) White, Emily (Steve) Gendron, Julie (Eric) Williams, and Philip (Victoria Dale). George was blessed with 10 grandchildren, Charlotte, Susie, and Stewart White, Walter, and Henry Gendron, Liam, Colin, and Xander Williams and Teddy and Gordie Burbidge. He predeceased his brother John Burbidge (Heather).

George was born in Winnipeg in 1950, but grew up in Montreal. Every summer he would join his grandparents in the wilds of Minaki turning over stones to look for insects and nurturing his love for nature. After graduating from McGill in 1973 he followed his future wife to Ontario where they settled in a village near Owen Sound. While raising his children, George developed many interests. He raised rabbits, tried his hand at growing mushrooms, made soap, had a worm farm for a while, and worked a magnificent vegetable garden, but foremost George tended, studied, and enjoyed raising his bees. He worked his hives for 45 years. Even as his life drew to an end, George directed his children on how to put bee escapes on the hives so he could bring the hives in to have the honey extracted. He watched with a critical eye as the honey was being bottled and labeled. His beloved bees will miss his love and attention.

George started working for PPG in Owen Sound as a systems analyst when the company’s computers filled rooms and by the time he left over 30 years later, those computers had shrunk to small laptops. Photography, travel and cycling filled George’s retirement years. He had never-ending patience while sitting and waiting for the perfect shot of a bird or insect. Anyone who has seen his photos will attest to his attention to detail while creating a piece of art. He had a passion for cycling which fueled him to ride in seven consecutive Ride to Conquer Cancer events. He raised thousands of dollars for cancer research, the disease that finally ended his life. George will be greatly missed by all his wonderful friends and very large family. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in his honor to The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation or The Nature Conservancy of Canada (https://www.natureconservancy.ca/en/). A Celebration of Life will take place at George’s home on October 1 from 2 - 5 pm.

Arrangements entrusted to the McCulloch-Watson Funeral Home, Durham.