Obituary of Gord Lee
Gordon Alan Lee (Gordie)
September 19, 1932 – September 7, 2025
It is with great sadness that we share the news of the peaceful passing of Gordon Alan Lee on Saturday, September 7, 2025, just shy of his 93rd birthday, surrounded by his loved ones.
Gordie was born and grew up in the west end of Toronto, where he spent many of his days palling around with his lifelong friends, the late Al Brown and the late Don Murray, at McCormick Playground. It was there he honed a love for recreation - baseball, swimming, and gymnastics along with a host of arts and crafts activities. That unique mix of skills and interests helped prepare him for his lifetime vocation.
Gordon faithfully served the City of Toronto, Parks & Recreation Department as a District Supervisor for nearly 40 years, while also attending night school at Centennial College.
He valued the variety his professional duties provided - whether overseeing the ice rink at Nathan Phillips Square, the Moss Park Community Centre, the baseball diamonds at Christie Pits, the historic Sunnyside pool, or Riverdale’s annual Winter Carnival. His leadership, good humour, and strong sense of fairness were always his hallmark.
At the peak of his career, Gord coordinated performances across the city’s parks: Polka Festivals, Metro Toronto International Caravan Festival, Shakespeare in High Park, and the legendary Greenwood Rock concerts that featured iconic Canadian bands such as Lighthouse, Blood, Sweat & Tears, The Downchild Blues Band, The Stampeders and local groups like Edward Bear and Sweet Blindness.
It’s fair to say Gord was ahead of his time. He understood early the value of family and leisure. Having retired at 55, Gordie had the extraordinary pleasure of enjoying an unprecedented amount of quality time with his loving wife and best friend, Eileen.
Together they travelled the world, escaped to Florida for winters, held season tickets to the Royal Alexandra Theatre, watched British sitcoms on TV, read murder-mystery novels, and cheered on their beloved Blue Jays.
Gordon is survived by his wife of 64 years, Eileen; children, David and Lauren; daughter-in-law Carrie and son-in-law Ike; grandchildren, David, Spenser, Samantha, Julia, and Mae; his brother Bruce (the late Joyce); and many nieces, nephews, neighbours, and friends.
A private celebration of a life well lived will be held in the months to come.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Michael Garron Hospital Foundation in memory of Gordon A. Lee by using the Donations tab on his homepage.
Though Gord, Dad, Granddad is no longer with us, his integrity, generosity, and dry wit will continue to live on in the hearts and minds of all who were fortunate enough to know him.
Please share a memory, photo or sentiment of Gord's life here at his memorial legacy page.
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