Alexander, William (Bill) John

September 16, 1929 – March 15, 2023

Dad, aka Bill, aka Papa, aka William John Alexander was born in Collingham, Newark, England in 1929. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Stephanie Alexander (nee Gaudet), his children Susan Maxwell (Drew), Michelle Bailey (Lane) and Paul Alexander (Candace) and his grandchildren Justin (Carolyn) and Jamie Bailey (Shannon), Kieran Nelligan, Katie, Lily and Annabelle Alexander, and Camryn Maxwell, and great grandson Cole Bailey. His twin, Betty Siddall, predeceased him as did his older siblings, Brian Alexander and Marjorie West. He was loved and will be greatly missed.

Dad was never one for fanfare and didn't like to belabour anything. He was shrewd, informed and exacting, and didn't suffer fools gladly. He spoke only when he had things to say but was hospitable, collegial, witty, frugal, and curt, at times. Dad was a very private and modest man and some facets of his life seemed mysterious. He attended Stockport College in Stockport, Greater Manchester, England, obtaining a certification in mechanical engineering, followed by 2 years of service in the British Royal Navy. After his discharge from naval service, Dad pursued a lifelong career with Hawker Siddeley Diesels & Electrics, initially as an electrical co-generation technician and subsequently as a project lead for power plant projects around the world, including many third world countries. He met and married mom in Summerside, Prince Edward Island in 1962 after taking some Catholic classes with the priest over some scotch neat, which helped seal the deal. He would be gone many weeks but brought dolls from the places he visited such as China, Hawaii, Africa, India and the Caribbean for Susan and Michelle and usually a bobble or two for Stephanie. He confounded Susan, Michelle and Paul's friends with his thick British accent when they called and he especially enjoyed interrogating them in person when they visited. Dad had creative and innovative solutions for many challenges. He relished the memory of holding Paul down at the bottom of the pool with the pool brush on his back so that he could collect the leaves at the bottom. Always frugal and careful with money, he bought dented cans to stock up the pantry, a throw back to his days in England as a boy during WWII when food was rationed and the towns folk didn't take the air raid sirens seriously until the time German planes disposed of their extra payload on their small village.

Dad was a just, honourable, stoic and taciturn man with a sly sense of humour. He took his role of caretaker and provider very seriously and excelled at providing for his family. He suffered from dementia in his final years but still always had a devilish twinkle in his bright blue eyes and a waggle of his index finger for his family and speakers of sassy comments and clever quips. We know he will be watching over us with his mischievous grin, twinkly blue wink and a 'hey hey hey'.

Thank you to the incredible staff at Sunrise Seniors Home in Burlington for their exceptional care of dad and kindness to family in dad's final days. A private family service has taken place.  If desired, memorial donations to Alzheimer's Society of Ontario or Heart & Stroke Foundation would be greatly appreciated.