George C. Woodcock May 20, 1920 - March 25, 2007

Shortly after the First World War in a small town called Bootle, near Liverpool, England; George Clement Woodcock arrived at a humble row house on 18 Violet Road as the first born son to George and Elizabeth Chapman Woodcock. A few years later, his brother Cliff joined the family.

George’s mischievous and playful character which was typical of him, originated while he was a young boy. For example, one day his mother had baked some jam tarts and placed them aside to cool. The smell of baked goodies pulled George and Cliff indoors to the kitchen from a game of soccer at a nearby park. They each grabbed two tarts off the baking pan. George saw his father napping on the sofa and decided to give him one of his tarts. He placed the tart on his father’s nose. Immediately, his father jolted upright, screaming aloud startling everyone in the house. Upon realizing what he had done, his father chased after him out the front door and down the street. As you might have guessed, the bottom of the tart wasn’t quite cool yet!

George attended grade school until he was 14. Following the sudden illness of his father, George was forced to work which helped support his family. He obtained steady work from a local farmer, who paid him with vegetables or chickens. George also did collections for his mother who worked as a money lender. During the Second World War, he played professional soccer as a replacement for some players who were recruited and serving in the British military. At the age of 20, George enlisted in the British Royal Air Force serving as a ‘Certified Radio-telegraphy Operator.’ On one account during a mission over the beaches of Normandy, amid the sound of bullets whizzing by and explosions everywhere; George as a radio airman in the back, accidentally knocked down a wrench onto the plane floor. He quickly bent down to retrieve the wrench and then stood up where he noticed the newly formed bullet holes on the side of the plane about waist high. If he didn’t bother to pick up the wrench, George would have been shot.

After the Second World War, George worked and supported himself through school earning a Degree in Economics by the age of 36. Before immigrating to Canada, he worked for Phillips Electronics as a purchasing agent. He married and 3 years later became a proud father of his daughter Janet who is currently serving as a captain in the criminal investigation division of the Honolulu Police Department. Upon moving to Toronto, Ontario, he ‘dabbled’ in several different business opportunities including starting up Scollard Maintenance. When Scollard began to flourish, George was able to take time off from work and travel to many places around the world with Janet. He owned a home on Marcos Island in Florida. Being an avid swimmer, he was able to swim daily in the ocean not far from his house. This is where he taught Janet how to swim. She can still recall climbing on his back the same way he would do with Sydney and Kennedy after their weekly swimming lessons. Scollard later expanded to Edmonton where George was able to provide jobs that were convenient to college students and new immigrants.

As a newly single mother of four girls, Linda became an employee of George’s cleaning business in 1978. Linda recalls that the first time she met George, he was wearing a polo shirt with a few food stains on his chest, comfortable polyester slacks and slip-on dress shoes which she refers to as “ballet shoes”. Upon learning that Linda didn’t like leaving her daughters at home alone while she cleaned at night; George suggested that she should bring them to work the next day. George greeted the four girls with such warmth and praised them for helping their mother. He rewarded them by taking them out for pizza. Later, George was welcomed into the family. Andrea, the youngest of the Linda’s girls was about 7 years old at the time and fondly remembers George making the most delicious crepes, sprinkled with sugar and lemon juice. Being the gentleman that he was, he fed everyone first before having any himself.

In December of 1982, George approached Susan, Fae, Andrea & I; and asked if they wanted presents for Christmas or to go to Hawaii. They all shouted, “Hawaii!!!!” Everyone was excited to go to a dinner luau one evening and wear real flower leis. However, upon learning that only seed leis were being given out, George took them to the store to get some needles and thread. At the beach adjacent to a golf course were several flower laden trees. George climbed up the trees, a feat he wouldn’t allow the ladies to do, picking and throwing down the flowers for the girls to collect below. Susan and I sewed together six beautiful flower leis and the entire family proudly wore them to the luau that night. There were many compliments and inquiries about the leis all evening. George would often reminisce this to be the best family Christmas in years.

George found great joy in pleasing his grandchildren. A few years ago, Adam wanted a ‘Game Boy Color’ for Christmas which was completely sold out in the US. From their home in Idaho, Jeff and Susan desperately called many friends in Texas, California and Utah to help fulfill Adam’s only Christmas wish. Finally, Susan suggested that Jeff call my mom. He called the house but got no answer, so he called George at work. George responded and said that he will go to Toy R’ Us to find out. About 20 minutes later, George called back and asked “What color does he want?” Every conversation Jeff had with George would always end the same way. He would say to Jeff, “If there is ever anything I can do for you, all you have to do is ask”, followed by “God bless.”

Affectionately known to his granddaughters Sydney and Kennedy as ‘Papa’ because they could not pronounce grandpa, George always went out of his way to please them. He knew that he contributed to what we’ll call the kids ‘negotiating skills’ as he had a hard time telling them ‘no.’ He was getting better as time went on but the ‘pretty pretty please’ would really turn him into a big softie…and the kids knew that. After swimming lessons on Saturdays, the kids didn’t want to ride home with Mom or Dad anymore as they knew if they rode with Nama & Papa, there was a good chance they could convince him to make a quick detour to the Dollar Store or Michael’s Craft store.

Throughout his many travels around the globe, George experienced life to the fullest from safaris in Africa to cruises in the Caribbean and Pacific oceans. His constant advice and encouragement to his children included that you are never too old to learn and persevere toward your goals in life. To quote him, “Education is the key to opening all the doors to success.”

As we reflect and celebrate the life of George today we will all have our own special memories of him. He told me recently that he’s lived a good life, travelled and seen most of the world and there wasn’t much more that he needed to accomplish other than to continue to take care of his family. Many knew George as a strong, shrewd businessman but he was also a kind and generous free spirit. A loving husband, father, and grandfather, who lived vicariously through his children and grandchildren, George would spare no expense; first starting with his grandson, Adam and continuing on with his granddaughters Sydney and Kennedy.

George was a man who knew no boundaries. His passion and zest for life rubbed off on anyone who knew him. Hard work and determination brought him to live all his 86 years on this earth. He wore many hats working in his business as owner, manager, salesman, accountant, receptionist and even, a cleaner.
We were blessed to know and love him. As George would say, “Don’t grieve for me on my passing, celebrate my life and have a party! Drink and be merry!”