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It is with great sadness that the Partners and Members of Chown Cairns Lawyers LLP announce that the Firm's founding Partner and Lawyer, ROY CAIRNS, BA, LLB, LLD (Hon), QC, passed away peacefully at home on October 26th, 2011 in his 87th year with his family present after a brief recurrence of cancer.
In 1953, Roy Cairns became a founding partner of the Firm and was a mentor and friend to many of the Firm's lawyers and members over the years. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1973, and completed his legal career in 2003 as Senior Counsel to Chown Cairns. In recognition of having practiced law for 50 years, Mr. Cairns was granted a life membership in the Law Society of Upper Canada.
In addition to his involvement with the Firm, Roy Cairns was a natural entrepreneur and was the Chairman and major shareholder of Charlesway Corporation Limited, a family investment corporation that holds a number of business investments in Canada, the U.S. and Costa Rica. He served as a Director for numerous publicly traded and closely held private corporations such as: Lincoln Capital Corporation, Taro Properties, Jumbo Video Limited, West 49 Inc, SIR Corp and Home Capital.
In spite of the many demands on his career, Roy Cairns found time to make important contributions to his community. One of the earliest promoters of the idea of establishing a university in Niagara, Mr. Cairns continued his support of Brock University for half a century, contributing generously to the Science Development Fund, serving as part of the team that made the $1 million lead gift to build Taro Hall during the "Give Brock The Business" campaign, establishing the Roy Cairns Scholarship given each year to a student entering the Oenology and Viticulture program and finally making a $10 million dollar donation to help make possible the building of The Cairns Family Health and Bioscience Research Complex.
A Past President of the St. Catharines Jaycees, St. Catharines Kiwanis Club, Lincoln Law Association, St. Catharines Chamber of Commerce, St. Catharines Downtown Association, and the St. Catharines Golf and Country Club, Roy Cairns also served as Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Grey Gables School, as a member of the Advisory Board of Branch 24 of the Royal Canadian Legion, a Director of the St. Catharines Community Fund and a member of the St. George's Anglican Church Endowment Fund Advisory Board.
A tireless community leader, Roy Cairns will be much missed. A man of many passions, Roy Cairns served proudly in the Royal Canadian Air Force during WWII and maintained a military connection as a member of The Honourable Company of The Lincoln and Welland Regiment. He hosted a popular classical music radio program on CKTB during the 1950's, was known for his love of the water and spent many happy days yachting and enjoying time with his family at their much loved cottage. A dedicated golfer, Mr. Cairns relished being able to still shoot his age in his later years.
As his friends and family would have expected, Mr. Cairns faced his illness with the same grace and dignity with which he lived his life, maintaining a sense of humour and a sense of concern for all around him. A gentleman to the end, his kindness and compassion will be remembered by all and his legacy will be his generosity and the positive impact he made on so many lives.
Roy Cairns will truly be missed by all - may his memory be eternal.
Visitation and funeral services will be held at St. George's Anglican Church, 83 Church Street, St. Catharines as follows: Visitation: Wednesday 2nd November 2011, 7 - 9 pm; Thursday 3rd November 2011, 2 pm - 4 pm and 7 pm - 9 pm. Funeral Service: Friday 4th November 2011, 1 pm. Reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations to Brock University, for the Cairns Family Health and Bioscience Research Complex would be appreciated and may be made through the offices of HULSE & ENGLISH FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 75 Church Street (905-684-6346) On-line tributes may be made at www.hulseandenglish.com.
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