In memory of
William Milner Dick
December 7, 1933 - September 28, 2026
The youngest of the three “Dick laddies,” Bill was born and raised in Dalkeith, Scotland. At 17 he joined the Royal Air Force and spent two formative years as an air-traffic controller in Karachi, Pakistan before joining the British Civil Service in London. He earned his BA in History and French and a Certificate in Education at the University of Edinburgh in 1958, MA at the University of Oregon in 1960, and PhD at the University of Toronto in 1965. In 1968, he joined its faculty at the newly-opened Scarborough College where he was a valued colleague and a highly-regarded teacher of global, American, and labour history. Retiring in 1999, Bill travelled extensively throughout Europe, North Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East and fulfilled a dream of returning to Pakistan and touring India. He also indulged his passions for gardening, ceramics, opera, antiques, painting, and languages.
Bill is survived by wife Madelyn (Bergen), children Alexander (Alison) and Eleanor, and granddaughters Isobel and Jennifer. In his final years Bill was looked after by two amazing men, Andrei Bucur and Clay Ejeh. The family wish to thank them and the whole team at Arcadia Home Care for their friendship and support. The medical, nursing, and spiritual staff at Providence Healthcare, who tended to Bill in his last few weeks, were also incredible. A memorial and celebration of life will be held at St. Joseph Chapel, Cardinal Ambrozic Houses of Providence, on November 7, 2026. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Toronto Alzheimer’s Society or the Providence Healthcare Foundation.
Bill is survived by wife Madelyn (Bergen), children Alexander (Alison) and Eleanor, and granddaughters Isobel and Jennifer. In his final years Bill was looked after by two amazing men, Andrei Bucur and Clay Ejeh. The family wish to thank them and the whole team at Arcadia Home Care for their friendship and support. The medical, nursing, and spiritual staff at Providence Healthcare, who tended to Bill in his last few weeks, were also incredible. A memorial and celebration of life will be held at St. Joseph Chapel, Cardinal Ambrozic Houses of Providence, on November 7, 2026. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Toronto Alzheimer’s Society or the Providence Healthcare Foundation.