BRIAN DOUGLAS SCOTT's Obituary
BRIAN DOUGLAS SCOTT
February 14, 1957 – January 28, 2023
It is with heavy hearts we announce the sudden passing of Brian. Broken hearted, but grateful for the time we had with him, his family and friends grieve his loss, trying to imagine a world without Brian in it. Brian leaves his beloved wife Wendy Stuart, his mother Olga Soldat, sisters Tracy (Ian) and Kelly (Luke) Scott, sister-in-law Kim Stuart, nephews Taylor, Spencer, Luc, niece Tieler, predeceased by his father, Norman (NDG) Scott.
As a child, Brian was a prankster; a going concern, who loved to get into mischief, much to his mother’s chagrin. Oh the things he did! Throwing all the neighbour’s boots down the incinerator; picking every flower out of a neighbour’s prized garden; snatching a box of sugar doughnuts from the back of the bread truck after conscripting the smaller neighbourhood kids to keep lookout on the promise of sharing the treats! Running up and down the aisles at various stores shouting “boo” to ensure his mom would give chase, resulting in lots of laughter and that impish grin. As he grew, Brian could not resist the opportunity to tease his sisters or get up to all kinds of shenanigans with his buddies. He loved to have fun and laugh and laugh. Even as a grown and accomplished man, Brian never lost the little boy in him.
Brian graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a degree in Economics. As a budding economist, he thought there must be a better way to earn a living than working in the corporate world, so he promptly decided to further his education, earning an M.A. and a Ph.D in Economics from Queen’s University at Kingston. “Dr. Scott” as he often joked, taught Economics at Concordia and Waterloo universities as a professor until he found his true calling in the investment markets where he truly excelled and best of all, could work where he wanted, when he wanted!
While at Queen’s Brian met the love of his life, Wendy. He loved to kid Wendy that he “let her” pick him up at a campus pub night, but really believed meeting Wendy was the best thing that ever happened to him. Wendy was his soul mate and the only woman who was a match for him. They loved each other unconditionally. Brian enthusiastically encouraged and supported Wendy in her successful career in the U.S. as senior executive in health care, living in Florida for the past 28 years. They were a loving couple, who generously and genuinely loved everything along their journey: family, friends, travel, parties, sailing, college football, tailgating, basketball and watching his team, the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Always the life of the party, Brian loved being with, and making new friends and had an open-door policy, welcoming everyone into his home. He loved to cook, getting his love of good food and entertaining from his mom. Like his dad, Brian believed and saw everyone as an equal having many lifelong friends from all walks of life. He understood that no matter what struggle or hurdle that had to be confronted in life, laughter and lightness would always provide some relief. He was a brilliant, deep thinker but sentimental at the same time. He was interested in philosophy, politics, history, economics, sports and was a voracious reader like his dad. There was never an argument he wasn’t willing to have on any of these subjects.
Brian loved his mother deeply, she was his role model, admiring her intelligence, independence and courage. His mom was so proud of him. Brian also cared deeply for his sisters Tracy and Kelly, and sister-in-law, Kim, the “little brother he never had”. Brian would always say these were the most important people in his life. When people would remark that they were all girls, Brian would just laugh and say “yes, that’s right!” Brian, the girls miss you so. You will always be in our hearts. We were so lucky to have you in our world.
A private family service will be held in the spring of 2023 followed by a celebration of life in Toronto. Details to follow. Online condolences may be made through Van Orsdel Funeral Services at VanOrsdel.com. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Brian’s name to support his love of animals to either https://evergladesangelsdogrescue.org/donate/ (Florida) or Torontohumanesociety.com.
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