Obituary of Glen Hamilton

Born on March 1, 1945, to proud parents Edna and Frank (later nicknamed Frank the Crank), Gerald Glen Hamilton grew up in Cabbagetown with his twin sister Nancy. Always surrounded by family and music, Glen was mischievous from the beginning, often recalling stories about breaking himself and Nancy out of daycare (it worked once, the second time he tried, she squealed) and choosing to go to the theatre to watch “the first movie featuring chimpanzees” over meeting his mother downtown to welcome Queen Elizabeth at a parade.

His love for animals began as a child, and while he wasn’t allowed to have his own pets, he would secretly nurse sick animals back to health, hiding them in his backyard. This love for animals would translate into many special pets as an adult, including several beloved dogs he would spend hours walking and feeding timbits. This love is also how he found himself involved in standardbred horse racing, even jogging horses with his infant daughter, Erin, in a baby carrier - a secret long kept from his wife, Lynne.

He also spent countless hours learning about wild animals (which included frequently listening to a frog call CD in his car) and local plant-life, eventually becoming a volunteer hike leader in the Rouge River (now Rouge National Urban Park). This was a special place for him, as his extended family had a cottage there when he was a child.

Another passion in his life was sports. Whether it was Friday night hockey (which son Daniel would also join), rugby, beach volleyball or squash, when he wasn’t hatching a scheme to pull a prank or taking a nap, he could likely be found at the Balmy Beach Club “playing sports”. He also proudly shared that as a young man, he was invited to several Toronto Argonaut training camps but ultimately decided rugby was superior to football.

Later in life, he started lane swimming but after complaining that his swim trunks kept falling off, decided the only logical solution was to wear a speedo. This became a point of pride for him and a point of contention for those around him. In addition to his annual speedo photoshoots, he also enjoyed throwing his damp speedo at his family and co-workers.

Having spent most of his career in real estate working for the Province, the City of Toronto and then the City of Brampton, his spirit could never be dampened by bureaucracy or HR, and he brought his hallmark mischief into the workplace. He loved April Fool’s Day, often collecting “turd-like” pinecones to prank people with or sending his manager fake HR complaints against himself. Another passion, napping, could not be hindered by the demands of corporate life, as he would often need to “take a cheque to the bank,” which was his secret code for a 45-minute car nap.

He was always deeply devoted to his family, making many special memories including the annual two-week trip to Lake Katchewanooka and acting as the glue that held everyone together. He proudly shared his “good deed of the day”, small ways he helped strangers in the community during his daily adventures, inspiring all of us to be kinder, calmer and more aware of everyone around us. He was also known for the “strongly worded” emails he wrote to local politicians, always fighting for the community.

At the beginning of July 2026, he was diagnosed with melanoma, and despite his determination, he left this world on August 11, 2026. A true shock to his family, friends and everyone who had seen him in the preceding months, as he had continued to be an active member of the community and was enthusiastically getting ready for speedo season.

He has left a legacy of humour, kindness and love, reminding us all to be kind, have fun and stand up for what is right.

As he would frequently say “Eat your hay and enjoy your day”.

Please join us in celebrating the life of Glen Hamilton:

Date: Thursday, October 8

Time: 3pm-6pm

Location: Balmy Beach Club, 360 Lake Front, Toronto, ON, M4E 1A7

To truly honour him, this will be a casual and uplifting event, and we invite everyone to come ready to share their favourite memories and stories of him.  Light snacks will be served. Cash bar.

Please share a memory, photo or sentiment of Glen's life here at his memorial web page.

Uniquely entrusted to eco Cremation & Burial Services Inc.

-Modern Funerals-

Copyright eco Cremation & Burial Services Inc. 2026