Service Information
Kane & Fetterly Funeral Home5301 Decarie Blvd.
Montreal, Quebec
February 24, 2017
14:00
George Francis Aikins
1926-2017
George was the beloved soul mate and husband of Sylvia (Ross) and loving and inspiring father of their daughter Shari (David), and of the children of his first marriage to Janine Cooke: Suezan (Sam), Steve (Leslie), Tana Karen, Lisa (Daniel) and Greg (Mary). He savoured joyful times with grandchildren Lauren (Dan), Kelly, Matt, Mike, Nick, Taylor, Chris, Natty, Christianne, Noah, Gabriella, Brooke and Scott. He is survived by sister Peggy McMullan and sisters in law, Kae and Joan Aikins, Diane Sheikh, Lainie (Yisrael) Eshchar, Claire (Henry) Smukler and Cheryl Ross. He is predeceased by brothers Jim and Joe, and brother in law Max Ross. Like many of us, his nieces and nephews share fond memories of having fun or a chat with Uncle George who always had a smile and an enquiring look, followed by a question with a true desire to find out what we were up to or thinking.
George was born in Edmonton to Elva (Bedard), a teacher, and Harry, a salesman. As George turned 11 the family moved to Montreal, where his endlessly curious intelligence, hardworking ambition, and energetic passions for lifelong education, art, music, sailing and skiing blossomed throughout his long life, benefiting his family, friends and community.
He joked that when he realized skiing would not support a family, he went steerage to Universal Lace of England and convinced them he should be their Canadian salesman. Later he established G.F. Aikins co. ltd., to sell fabrics, and in the 60’s, he established Agmont Ltd. with just two circular knitting machines. Years later, joined by his son Stephen, Agmont was described by the industry magazine as “an innovative company with a large and tremendously modern mill, equipped with the most sophisticated technological advances for computerized production.”
Awakening to the plight of ex-convicts, he supported the John Howard Society as an employer, but much of his lifelong giving was quietly done, helping where he could. Always intellectually and socially aware, as a young man George joined the founders of the Thomas More Institute, a unique institution for adult education where he was a discussion leader, board member and lifelong supporter. Inspired by modern innovations in educational theory, he moved his then 5 children to the Priory School, and later on to private high schools and beyond, wanting them, and later Shari and his grandchildren, to benefit from the best education possible in order to realize their dreams.
Fascinated by art, George was one of the first collectors of Inuit carvings and especially loved his many modern original prints. When he retired, he realized his dream of making art himself, soon discovering that creating clay sculptures was most exciting. For many happy years he shared a studio with other sculptors in the old Simmons factory making treasured works for his family.
All his life, he loved jazz and classical music, enjoyed going to the symphony, concerts and live theater, often contributing to their cause. Discovering sailing as a young man, he shared small boat racing and delightful summer cruises with his children, and years later he and Sylvia enjoyed sailing on the boats of his children, too. He and Sylvia realized his lifelong dream on their ‘Spirit of Jay’, sailing in the Caribbean blissfully alone or with family and friends. They cultivated beautiful gardens at the dream haven he had designed and built of recycled barn board in Jay, Vt., long before ‘green’ building became the voque. In later years they added a glorious pond, and enjoyed many more happy times together.
This unusually vital man faced Parkinson’s disease with great courage and dignity, inspiring us with his life affirming example to the last.
1926-2017
George was the beloved soul mate and husband of Sylvia (Ross) and loving and inspiring father of their daughter Shari (David), and of the children of his first marriage to Janine Cooke: Suezan (Sam), Steve (Leslie), Tana Karen, Lisa (Daniel) and Greg (Mary). He savoured joyful times with grandchildren Lauren (Dan), Kelly, Matt, Mike, Nick, Taylor, Chris, Natty, Christianne, Noah, Gabriella, Brooke and Scott. He is survived by sister Peggy McMullan and sisters in law, Kae and Joan Aikins, Diane Sheikh, Lainie (Yisrael) Eshchar, Claire (Henry) Smukler and Cheryl Ross. He is predeceased by brothers Jim and Joe, and brother in law Max Ross. Like many of us, his nieces and nephews share fond memories of having fun or a chat with Uncle George who always had a smile and an enquiring look, followed by a question with a true desire to find out what we were up to or thinking.
George was born in Edmonton to Elva (Bedard), a teacher, and Harry, a salesman. As George turned 11 the family moved to Montreal, where his endlessly curious intelligence, hardworking ambition, and energetic passions for lifelong education, art, music, sailing and skiing blossomed throughout his long life, benefiting his family, friends and community.
He joked that when he realized skiing would not support a family, he went steerage to Universal Lace of England and convinced them he should be their Canadian salesman. Later he established G.F. Aikins co. ltd., to sell fabrics, and in the 60’s, he established Agmont Ltd. with just two circular knitting machines. Years later, joined by his son Stephen, Agmont was described by the industry magazine as “an innovative company with a large and tremendously modern mill, equipped with the most sophisticated technological advances for computerized production.”
Awakening to the plight of ex-convicts, he supported the John Howard Society as an employer, but much of his lifelong giving was quietly done, helping where he could. Always intellectually and socially aware, as a young man George joined the founders of the Thomas More Institute, a unique institution for adult education where he was a discussion leader, board member and lifelong supporter. Inspired by modern innovations in educational theory, he moved his then 5 children to the Priory School, and later on to private high schools and beyond, wanting them, and later Shari and his grandchildren, to benefit from the best education possible in order to realize their dreams.
Fascinated by art, George was one of the first collectors of Inuit carvings and especially loved his many modern original prints. When he retired, he realized his dream of making art himself, soon discovering that creating clay sculptures was most exciting. For many happy years he shared a studio with other sculptors in the old Simmons factory making treasured works for his family.
All his life, he loved jazz and classical music, enjoyed going to the symphony, concerts and live theater, often contributing to their cause. Discovering sailing as a young man, he shared small boat racing and delightful summer cruises with his children, and years later he and Sylvia enjoyed sailing on the boats of his children, too. He and Sylvia realized his lifelong dream on their ‘Spirit of Jay’, sailing in the Caribbean blissfully alone or with family and friends. They cultivated beautiful gardens at the dream haven he had designed and built of recycled barn board in Jay, Vt., long before ‘green’ building became the voque. In later years they added a glorious pond, and enjoyed many more happy times together.
This unusually vital man faced Parkinson’s disease with great courage and dignity, inspiring us with his life affirming example to the last.
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