Major-General Bill Hewson passed away peacefully on February 3rd 2021, a day after his eighty fourth birthday. His wife Norah was at his side.
Bill and Norah met at a party in Toronto in 1959, where he was a recent graduate from the Royal Military College gaining a civil engineering degree from the U of T. Norah was a student nurse at Sick Kids Hospital. They said goodnight, but Bill was smitten, and he called Norah the next day to ask her to dinner. Despite postings and deployments across Canada and to Germany, England, Cyprus, Australia and Belgium, he never really left her side again. He married Norah in 1961, and they made homes together around the world. After raising their sons Douglas and Richard, they retired to their property on Calabogie Lake, in the Ottawa Valley.
Bill lived his life with honour, courage and loyalty. His military service began with command of a rifle platoon in Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. He was promoted to positions of increasing responsibility with the Patricias and in the Intelligence Branch. He served as Commanding Officer of 1st Battalion PPCLI; Commander of the Canadian Contingent to the UN Force in Cyprus; Chief of Intelligence at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa, and as Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence at SHAPE, the NATO Headquarters in Mons, Belgium. Appointments as the Colonel of the Regiment, PPCLI; Colonel Commandant of the Intelligence Branch, and as a Commander of the Order of Military Merit reflected his dedication to his Regiment, his Branch, and his Army.
Bill was promoted to the rank of Major-General in 1985, and retired from the Canadian Forces in 1991. He served as Director General of the Communications Security Establishment (CSE) until 2000.
He was a leader to all, and a mentor to many.
As a husband, father and grandfather, he showed us how to live a life with love, humour and integrity, and without fear or regret. At a ski hill or a hockey rink, at a board room table or a carpenter’s work bench, and in all our many different homes around the world, he was the steady presence that inspired us with confidence that no matter what happened, he’d always be there.
Bill is survived by Norah, the other half of the Dynamic Duo. He is survived as well by Douglas (Marisia), of Kanata, Ontario and by Richard (Stephanie) of Vernon, BC and their sons Mitchell and Spencer.
The family is grateful for the care Bill received from his physiotherapist Mr. Ben Wassell, Dr. Kristian Davis, Dr. Tilak Mendis, and the staff at the Queensway Carleton Hospital, including Dr. Sanjay Acharya.
A private service will be held at Beechwood Cemetery in the near future. All of Bill’s family, friends and colleagues will be welcomed at a Memorial Service, to be scheduled and announced as soon as better times return. In the meantime, please consider a donation to Parkinson Canada.
Digital Guestbook
Jean-Paul Pendergast
Butch Waldrum
A sad loss for sure. A gentleman and fine officer. Certainly a great example to us all. My condolences to all concerned.
BGen (ret’d) the Venerable John Fletcher
Bill was one of the kindest, most caring and capable leaders I’ve been privileged to know. I was deeply saddened to learn of his passing, and express my sincerest condolences to Norah and the entire Hewson clan. May Bill Rest In Peace and rise in glory.
Michael Solonynko
What a gracious, kind and capable mentor he was! I am honoured to have known him.
Pat and Pam Taverner
Wonderful memories of our shared river cruises.
Walt and Leslie Natynczyk
Please accept our heartfelt condolences. Bill Hewson was an exceptional example to us all of a soldier, public servant and gentlemen. Always caring, in good humour and wanting to make a positive difference. May the the embrace of family and friends provide you strength.
Mike Fournier
MGen Bill Hewson was my commander in Cyprus. He was always upbeat, which made my work all the much more enjoyable. He was an impressionable man.
My condolences to his wife Norah and his family.
He was a kind and great man. VP