It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of David William McWhirter at the age of 74 after a brief and challenging time with cancer.

David was born in Toronto to William and Ruth (Conquergood) McWhirter on January 5, 1950. During his childhood, he enjoyed Boy Scouts and time at the cottage on Balsam Lake. In 1979, he married Diane and remained a loving and devoted husband to her for over 44 years until his passing. David was predeceased by Diane’s parents, Ivor and Margaret Rooney. He was a caring, supportive, and proud father to Jennifer McWhirter and Ryan (Erin) McWhirter and doting grandfather to Elowen. Fondly remembered by brother Robert (Deborah) McWhirter and sister Patricia (the late Steven) Milne, nephews Thomas (Aimee), Patrick (Brittannie), Andrew (Jenny), and Samuel, niece Elizabeth (Daniel), and grandnephews and grandnieces. He was loved and will be dearly missed by extended family, including the McWhirter, Conquergood, Milne, Rooney, Prout, Wasielewski, and Beckford families, and many close friends and colleagues.

David cared deeply about his family and friends, demonstrating this through shared time, memory making, and acts of service. He had incredible work ethic and liked to keep busy with home, garden, and mechanical projects, striving for perfection in all he did. He was a loving and kind person who was generous with his time and knowledge. David will be remembered for his wonderful sense of humour, quick wit, keen eye, and ability to design, build, and repair just about anything. He enjoyed photography, music, guitars, cars, motorcycles, cottaging, fishing, and landscape design.

David was a Landscape Architect, graduating from the University of Toronto in 1974. He returned to the University as a faculty member, and for a brief interim period as Director of the Landscape Architecture program. He worked for several years with Hough Stansbury and Associates, moving from there to the MBTW Group where he remained for the balance of his career as the firm’s most senior Associate. He leaves behind a rich legacy of local and international built works that harmoniously blend aesthetics with human and environmental needs. He will be remembered for his meticulous attention to detail, extraordinary grasp of technical complexities, and rigorous mentorship of emerging professionals. He was a member of the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects and the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects. The Association will plant a memorial tree in his honour at the University of Guelph Arboretum.

We extend our gratitude to the staff, nurses, and physicians at Lakeridge Health Oshawa and his family physicians for their care and compassion.

Please join us in celebrating David’s life at Pine Hills Cemetery and Funeral Centre (625 Birchmount Road, Toronto) on Saturday, April 6, 2024. Visitation will take place at 1:00pm, with a Memorial Service at 2:00pm and reception immediately following. In keeping with David’s wishes, cremation has taken place.

Memorial donations to Lakeridge Health Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society, or Landscape Architecture Canada Foundation would be greatly appreciated.