Murray Dowey

Murray A. Dowey

January 3, 1926 – May 26, 2021

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Murray A. Dowey on Wednesday May 26, 2021 in Toronto at the age of 95. Beloved husband of the late Gertrude (nee Patterson). He will be greatly missed by sons Kevin (Cathy), Murray (Joan); grandsons Brian (Sonia), Joshua (Neve), Andrew (Ashley), Tyler (Meagan); great grandchildren Christian, Anthony, Thomas, Camden and Aila.

Dad was born in 1926 in the east end of Toronto to Albert & Winifred. As a young boy he became very involved in baseball and hockey. In his late teens and early twenties he was considered one of Toronto’s best fastball pitchers winning the Beaches League, City and Provincial Championships. He also played goalie in the Mercantile Hockey League at Varsity Arena.

At 16 Dad started working at the TTC as an Office Boy. He worked for the TTC for the next 44 years except for a two year stint in the Army. He retired in 1986 as the Superintendant of Administration in the Transportation Department.

At 17 he was recruited by the Toronto Maple Leafs who wanted him to play for the Marlies. It never happened because he couldn’t come to terms with Marlie owner Harold Ballard.

Mom and Dad were married in 1945 and moved to the west end of Toronto to start a family. They had been married for 58 years at the time of her passing.

In 1948 at age 22, Dad received a last minute invite to be the starting goalie with the RCAF Flyers hockey team in the 1948 Winter Olympics. He recorded 5 shut-outs in 8 games leading the team to gold in St. Moritz, Switzerland. Those 5 shut-outs and a goals against average of 0.62 remain an Olympic record to this day.

The RCAF Flyers were inducted into the Canadian Forces Sports Hall of Fame in 1971, the Greater Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame in 1998, and the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 2008. Dad was also inducted into the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame in 2001. He was the last surviving member of the team.

In December 2009 at age 83 he was honoured with torch bearer status during the Toronto leg of the cross-Canada Olympic Flame Relay in advance of the 2010 Vancouver games. Dad ran with the torch into the atrium of the hospital of Sick Kids. He said the ovation from the kids, doctors, and nurses was the biggest he ever heard.

Faith was central to Dad and he was a long time member of the Beaver Bible Class and Westway United Church where he made so many friends. He lived on his own to the end at Delmanor Prince Edward where he remained active and enjoyed the new friends he made over the past 3 years.

The family would like to recognize Alberta Graham for how important she and her companionship had been to Dad. You will always be considered a part of the Dowey family.

We would like to thank the staff at Toronto Western Hospital and at Delmanor Prince Edward for their kind and thoughtful care.

Dad’s life was well lived. We will miss him dearly.

In view of COVID there will only be a private service for the immediate family.