CHAMPION, Terence Earl

January 13, 1938 — May 22, 2024

It is with great love and sadness that we announce the loss of Terence Earl Champion, who passed away on May 22, 2024, at the age of 86.

Terence, known as Terry, was born to Harriet and Cecil Champion in Trois-Rivieres Quebec, and grew up in Dalhousie, New Brunswick. He attended university in Fredericton, before moving to Montreal and working as a commercial artist.  He found his calling in the field of psychology, finishing his degree at Sir George Williams University, before moving to Ottawa and completing a master’s degree at Ottawa University.

He met and married Eunice Champion in Montreal, and before long they had two children, Karen and Evan. Terry became head of counselling at Algonquin College, and life in Ottawa South settled into work, raising children, spending time at the cottage in the Gatineau, visits to Riviere-du-Loup, and learning how to fly a glider.

Life took an interesting turn when Terry and Eunice decided to separate, and Terry became a single father to two kids while holding down a full-time job. It was about two years later that he fell in love with Sharon, and they made one of their first bold moves, escaping the city for the countryside. It was 1976 when Terry and Sharon bought 240 acres of land outside of Perth, Ontario and with great courage, and some naivety, built their own house and lived life to the beat of a different drummer.

Terry would have celebrated a 50-year anniversary with Sharon next year, which, for a man who embraced renewal and change, was a remarkable achievement.  For the next 30 years in Perth, Terry showed a thirst for adventure and learning new skills; he taught himself leather making, and with Sharon, started a highly successful restaurant which they called Tinkers. His final career move was to go back to private practice as a psychotherapist, until he retired. This gave him time to throw himself into art, primarily sculpture, which occupied much of his time and enthusiasm.

Terry leaves behind his devoted wife Sharon of 49 years, with whom he had a relationship full of fun, love, and adventure. He was a doting and proud father to Karen, Evan, and Alison, and was always accepting and welcoming to their husbands and wives. A loving grandfather to Oliver and Sam, William and Emmeline, and Riley and Isaac, step-father to Jenny, step-grandfather to Maya, Skyler, Astyn, and brother to Eric, he loved family gatherings and was happiest whenever family visited. He leaves behind many friends who, along with all of us in the family, knew that he always saw the best in people. He loved nature, he loved taking risks and experiencing new things in life, he loved family and friends; he will be greatly missed and never forgotten

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