It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of Michael Kirk Ormrod, aged 66, after an eight-year battle with prostate cancer. Mike was the doting partner and best friend of Melodie Tilson for more than 40 years. Devoted and proud father of three wonderful sons—Ryan (Mariah MacLeod), Cameron, and Braden (Sara)—and adoring grandpa to miracle baby Max. Mike was a hands-on dad—driver and cheerleader at countless hockey and basketball games, cub leader, calculus tutor to Ryan’s friends, and chief camper during boys’ weekends at the cottage and family vacations to PEI and NS. Mike’s love, generosity, sense of humour, and unwavering support enriched the lives of his family immeasurably.
Predeceased by his parents John and Margaret, Mike will be greatly missed by his siblings, Charles (Lore), Elizabeth Fox, Katharine Myers (Bruce Smith), and Heather Chick (Bill), and by his brother- and sister-in-law Brian and Angie Tilson. He will be fondly remembered by his seventeen nieces and nephews and their children.
Mike was born in Winnipeg but grew up in Deep River, Ontario, where he enjoyed an idyllic childhood exploring the woods, the Ottawa river, and the Quebec shoreline. After graduating from Mackenzie High School, Mike earned a Bachelor of Applied Science and a Master of Engineering, both in Mechanical Engineering, from the University of Waterloo.
Mike was recruited by the Department of National Defence where he proudly served for 31 years as a Defence Scientist, specializing in operational research and analysis. Mike loved his work using research and modelling to provide senior decision-makers in the Canadian armed forces with evidence-based guidance on issues such as procurement, operational effectiveness, troop size and deployment, and logistics.
Mike was a talented builder and jack-of-all-trades. His two homes reflected his skill and craftmanship, with their built-in bookshelves, crown moulding, interlock walkways, and custom decks, to name a few of his many projects. The Ormrod family cottage in Bancroft was also a labour of love. Mike devoted countless hours to improving the road, building a waterfront deck, expanding the porch and the woodshed, and hand-digging a path around the cliff-face from the cottage to the dock. Mike used his skills and time, especially in retirement, to help many nieces, nephews, and friends with renovation projects and repairs, both big and small.
Mike and Melodie thoroughly enjoyed travelling together. Among their most treasured memories were their adventures in Bali and Italy and three winters in Spain, where they revelled in the food, wine, and culture, made new friends, and shared their love of Spain with their sons Ryan and Cameron and dear friends the Gleesons during their visits.
Mike loved playing cards, especially bridge, making people laugh, hosting people for dinner, a party, or just a drink and a swim, playing with babies, going for long walks with Melodie and their dog, Chester (Jasper), biking, canoeing, camping, and so much more.
He will be remembered for his sharp mind, his quick wit, his sense of fun, and his eagerness to share his time, knowledge, and love with everyone he cared about. Mike will be deeply missed by all who had the good fortune to know him.
A celebration of life will be held on April 25 at 1:30 p.m. at the Heritage Funeral Complex, 1250 Trim Rd, Orléans, ON K4A 3P7. In lieu of flowers, in-memoriam donations to the Ottawa Hospital Foundation or Diabetes Canada would be greatly appreciated.