In Celebration of

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Kenneth Oliver McCuaig. He was 91 years old and had been married to his beloved wife Margaret for 66 years. He passed away peacefully on March 1st, 2024.

In addition to his loving wife, Margaret, he will forever be cherished and missed by his four children: Rory (Doris), Peggy (Cas), Glen (Lesley-Ann), and Erin. He also leaves behind nine beautiful grandchildren: Jonathan (Sara), Megan (Merwan), Jeffrey (Kaho), Michael (Jaquie), Ryan, Peter (Alice), Kelly (Gordon), Julia, and Kalena, as well as his great-grandchildren Landon, Malik, Zayn, Jamal, Noah, and Lola. Unfortunately, he missed the opportunity to meet some but still loved them in spirit. Left to mourn and find solace in his memory are his 27 nieces, nephews, and extended family throughout Canada, the USA, and the United Kingdom. He will also be remembered by the Puscas family and many close and loving friends he loved very much.

Ken was born on September 27, 1932, in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. He was the second child of Oliver and Ida (Fettes) McCuaig and had six siblings. Among his siblings, Ken is survived by his sisters Mavis (Al) and Judy (Tom). Unfortunately, he was predeceased by his siblings Shirley (Tommy), David (Barb), Phyllis (Wally), and Heather (Whit).

Ken grew up in Windsor, Ontario, and was an exceptional student at Forester Collegiate. In grade 13, he achieved a near-perfect mark and was recognized as the top student there. After graduating from high school, Ken chose to pursue medicine over life as a missionary as he completed his studies at the University of Toronto. Back home in Windsor, Ken’s sister Mavis, who was training to become a Nurse, met a friend and decided to introduce her to Ken. On May 31, 1958, Ken married the love of his life, Margaret Anne (Woodrich), in Windsor, Ontario. Together, they moved to Mississauga, where Ken began teaching Gross Anatomy and Anthropology to medical and dental students at the University of Toronto. He continued in this career until his first retirement.

Ken, a Queen Scout award recipient, and Margaret, his talented and beautiful wife, quickly became involved in their community. The two would attend Scout jamborees, where Margaret worked as a nurse, and Ken served as the camp doctor. Ken went on to assist his close friend and colleague, Dr. James Anderson, in running the first Applewood “A” Scout Troup. Eventually, he took over the role and led the troop for many years, positively influencing the lives of numerous young men in the Applewood Acres neighborhood.

Ken was an avid photographer who took many photos of family, friends, and strangers. He would always take at least “two” shots for each pose and then print off a dozen or more when he found one he liked. In addition to photography, Ken had many hobbies, including stained glass, woodworking, golfing, bird watching, music, and others. He was a huge fan of puzzles, always enjoying a mental challenge and keeping his mind active and sharp.

Ken considered his family to be the most essential part of his life. He nurtured this love by frequently organizing McCuaig Family gatherings at Innisfree Farms, engaging family members and others through string figure competitions, singing songs, and various other “K.McCuaig” special events like midnight skulks and the ever-popular black-ball competition. One year, Ken decided to build a giant hyperbolic paraboloid that would be erected by the many helping hands of his nieces and nephews to serve as a backdrop for photography and the many family competitions.

As a loving grandfather, Ken always made it a point to spend quality time with his grandkids. He would take them on tours of the University or to see fish at Ripley’s Aquarium, always looking for a unique adventure to create memories that would last a lifetime. Ken loved to turn every occasion into something special, taking them to watch the Lion King and all the Harry Potter movies; he even crafted special “magic wands” for everyone. Traditions were a big deal; always looking to create a new one, he celebrated “Christmas in July” and an annual family Christmas dinner at the Mandarin. Ken was also an encourager for family and friends, attending public speaking engagements, summer camp ukulele performances, graduations, sporting events, Sweet Adeline competitions, and more. Ken could be found standing in front of the entire audience, camera in hand, with a smile on his face.

As a do-it-yourselfer, Ken tackled many projects around the house, including plumbing, building, painting, and installing the infamous rotary TV antenna (who needs cable)! Ken would tackle whatever he could get his hands on, including installing an above-ground pool and deck, which he would later replace an addition to the family home. No challenge was too small, and finding creative solutions brought him great satisfaction.

After retiring once, Ken rejoined the workforce and began performing eye exams for Walmart part-time. He continued to do so until he was 82, leaving his patients with prescriptions for glasses and a string figure string, having taught them the fishnet and witches’ hat. Ken was a lover of adventure and travel, and during his retirement, he explored various places, including Brazil, China, New Zealand, Scotland, England, Trinidad, and many more. His desire to travel was fueled by his love of storytelling, meeting new people, and teaching string figures wherever he went. Ken touched the lives of thousands, and all will sorely miss him.

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