Grant Boyd

Boyd Grant Nathaniel
June 1, 1923 - June 29, 2014

A Life Well-Lived. A Man Well-Loved.
After a full and happy 91 years of life, Grant Nathaniel Boyd passed peacefully away with all of his children by his side. Predeceased by Edith, his beloved wife of 57 years, Grant will be forever missed and remembered with love by all of his children, grandchildren, sister Betsy, niece, nephews and many friends. Grateful for all that he has given them and proud of the wonderful legacy of family he has left behind are his children Cynthia (George), Andrea (Judy), Pamela (Brian), Rhoda (Mike) and James (Carolyn); and his adoring grandchildren Andrew, Hannah, Kate, Sophie, Emmett, Nathan and Nolan. Born in Winnipeg, Grant was the only son of Wilfred and Ruth Boyd. After graduating high school from the University of Toronto School (UTS), Grant obtained his undergraduate degree in Engineering and a Masters degree in Geophysics from the University of Toronto. His love of academics was rivaled only by his passion for sports and it was on the ski hills of Mont St. Sauveur that he met the love of his life, Edith, whom he married in 1955. As a busy father of five, Grant instilled a love of sports and the outdoors in all of his children, and remarkably found the time to be involved in numerous athletic pursuits, most notably as the Assistant Chef de Mission for the Canadian Olympic Team at the 1964 Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria. Grant parlayed his engineering background into a successful career in the then burgeoning field of computer science. In addition to positions with Northern Electric, Bell Northern Research, as well as the public service, Grant devoted many hours of his time and travelled worldwide as President of the Canadian Information Processing Society and Board Member of the International Federation of Information Processors. In many ways, life began after retirement for Grant. From his volunteer activities as Chairman of the Canadian Ski Museum and tireless canvasser for the Canadian Arthritis Society, to his adventures in the world of horse racing through his syndicate, Frugal Fellas Farm, Grant exemplified the definition of a full and busy life in his golden years. Though Grant's failing health gradually curtailed his mobility, he never lost his spirit and determination, his integrity and his wicked sense of humour, which uplifted everyone who ever enjoyed the pleasure of his company. The Boyd family would like to acknowledge Dad's extended family of outstanding caregivers, Louisa, Elsie, Randy, Christine and Nely; Dr. Barbara Yeats; and the compassionate support of Dr. Ali and the staff on A3 at the Queensway Carleton Hospital during Dad's final days. Friends may call at the Garden Chapel of Tubman Funeral Homes, 3440 Richmond Rd. (between Bayshore and Baseline Rd.), Nepean on Friday, July 4, 2014 from 7 to 9 p.m. A memorial service will be held in the chapel on Saturday, July 5, 2014 at 1 p.m. In remembrance, contributions to the Ottawa Heart Institute or the Canadian Arthritis Society would be sincerely appreciated by the family.