OBITUARY: HUGH CARLTON FAIRFIELD, DEC. 9, 1931 ~ JULY 10, 2021

On July 10, 2021 at 1 p.m., Hugh Carlton Fairfield passed away peacefully in the arms of his loving wife, daughters and family.

Hugh was born Dec. 9, 1931, in Selkirk, Manitoba.

The oldest child of Finlay Robert Fairfield and Esther Jean Carpenter, Hugh loved to spend his time with his father in the Fairfield Woolen Mill. This is where he grew to love manufacturing.

The Fairfield Woolen Mills supplied blankets across Canada and made uniform fabric during the Second World War. The family moved the company from Selkirk to Winnipeg. His father died when Hugh was 18. After his father died, Hugh went to university in Massachusetts.

Meanwhile, he married his childhood sweetheart, Adele Sanderson.

Hugh Carlton Fairfield began work in his family’s Fairfield Woolen Mill in Selkirk, Manitoba, which they eventually sold to the Jamaican government where he helped them set up operations on the island. Hugh later worked in England with what is now Sunbeam. He was also a charter member of the Landsdowne Children’s Centre. He and his wife Adele Fairfield, who became a Muskoka Lakes councillor, retired to their beloved Walker’s Point cottage which they and their family and gandkids love.

Next, the family business moved to Preston, Ontario.

The family business was bought by the Jamaican government and Hugh and his  family moved to Jamaica. Hugh had the responsibility of building a factory and hiring and training staff.

When that job ended Hugh moved back to Canada and became employed by the Solary division of what was to become the Sunbeam company. He remained at Sunbeam until his retirement at age 58.

Hugh was always an active volunteer. In early 1970, in Brantford, a friend asked Hugh to find a better way to treat children with cerebral palsy. Hugh worked with the children, parents and levels of government and led local Rotarians in finding and locating a school that eventually grew into the Landsdowne Children’s Centre of which Hugh was a charter member. This centre was an early leader providing specialized treatment for children with physical disabilities.

When he retired to where he loved most in the world, Muskoka, he continued to help out in the community. He took pleasure in being able to mentor new businesses locally and as the president of the Ontario division of BDC.

Hugh was an avid golfer and was often asked to be part of a team to raise funds in the community. He agreed to co-chair a Muskoka Lakes golf tournament and that raised the most money that the tournament had ever raised.

His love of snowmobiling meant many hours keeping records for clubs. He also loved curling and enjoyed many years competing provincially with a seniors team.

He taught his four daughters to love Muskoka the way he did. They all learned to drive a boat, sail and paddle. They love to water ski, snow ski, hike in the woods and enjoy the night sky. His love for his family and loyalty to his job were his life.

He is sorely missed by his daughters their partners, his grandchildren and great grandchildren; Wendy Whillans and Bill Keller, Lisa and Youssef Ziada (Owain), Fin Whillans and Erynn Shaw (Eamon, Greta) and Kaely Whillans; Diane and Larry Pick, Jennifer and Greg Sanders (Ava, Mat), Eric Pick and Emimel Samonte; Jan Bradley; Jessica and Mike Youwe, John Hugh, William Michael; Bobbi and John Garrow, Thompson, Turner and Devynn Garrow.

And the love of his life, Adele Fairfield, a former longtime municipal councillor with the Township of Muskoka Lakes. The couple moved in recent years to Castle Peak Retirement home in Bracebridge, where Adele still lives.

A private family funeral will take place Saturday, July 17, at noon; followed by a visitation at the Walker’s Point Community Centre from 12:30 to 2 p.m. All are welcome to pay their respects.

Cremation has already taken place.