Obituary of Leonard Joseph Lawson

Leonard Joseph Lawson died peacefully at the Saint John Regional Hospital on Friday, June 20, 2008. He was born at Cornwall, Ontario on February 28, 1911. Len was the son of the late Samuel G. Lawson and Annie Janet McDonnell. He is survived by his devoted wife of 65 years, Margaret (Peggy) Lawson, his son, Leonard John “Jack” Lawson (Jane) of Shediac, NB, his daughters, Jane Lawson of Toronto, ON, and Mary MacDougall (John) of Otter Brook, NS. He is also survived by his grandchildren Julie and John Lawson, Katie, Ian, and Meg MacDougall, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was the last surviving member of his family, and was predeceased by brothers Wilfred, Bernard, William, John, and sisters Ethel, Edna, Irene, and Ann. Len received his early education in St. Andrews and Cornwall, and later attended St. Patrick’s College in Ottawa and the Seminary of Philosophy in Montreal. He operated Lawson Transport Company with his brothers and then went on to work with London Life Insurance Company for 17 years in Cornwall. His time with London Life was interrupted by four years in the army during the Second World War. In 1960, Len was transferred by London Life to Saint John as Regional Manager until his retirement in 1974. Prior to his retirement from London Life, he served as President of the Life Manager Association of New Brunswick and as a Director of the Canadian Life Underwriter Association, representing New Brunswick. Len was an active and supportive member of St. Columban’s Roman Catholic Church while living in Cornwall, and both St. Rose of Lima and St. Pius X Church in Saint John. He served as Past Grand Knight of Ontario Council # 755 and Honorary Member of Council # 937 in Saint John. Len realized that to make his community a better place in which to live, he had a responsibility to be involved and participate. He was an active member of many organizations including the City Planning Board, the Saint John Harbour Bridge Authority, and the Canadian Cancer Society. He supported the good works done by the Saint John Kiwanis Club and was not only a Past President and its longest serving member, but in certain circles was known as “Mr. Kiwanis”. Len was an avid sportsman and in his youth played on Junior championship teams in hockey and lacrosse. He was an avid golfer and a member of the Westfield Golf and Country Club. He was a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs and both the Blue Jays and New York Yankees, depending on who was winning. He and Peggy spent many happy retirement years in Largo, Florida enjoying bridge and golf, and where Len distinguished himself on the shuffleboard circuit. The family is very appreciative of the love and kindness shown to Len by his caregivers and the staff of Chateau de Champlain. They became an important part of his family. Resting at Brenan's Select Community Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John, NB (506-634-7424), with visiting on Monday from 2-4 and 7-9 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday at 10:00 AM from St. Pius X Church, 316 Somerset Street. Interment will take place privately in Holy Cross Cemetery. For those who wish, remembrances to the Canadian Cancer Society or any charity of the donor’s choice would be appreciated by the family.