Photo courtesy Hulse, Playfair & McGarry Inc.
Municipal buildings are lowering their flags in honour of a distinguished Renfrew resident.
Flags are at half-mast this week after former Director of Renfrew Hydro, Merv Beckstead, passed away at the age of 84.
Beckstead had a prominent career as a municipal public administrator in the Ottawa area, earning the Ontario Lieutenant Governor’s Medal of Distinction.
After retiring, he would continue to contribute to causes like Renfrew and Area Seniors Home Support, where he was Vice President and a volunteer driver.
The group says Beckstead was “generous to a fault and will be irreplaceable” as a volunteer for many community organizations in the Ottawa Valley.
Mayor Tom Sidney sends his condolences to the Beckstead family, saying, “Merv was a strong community supporter and will be missed by many.”
A celebration of life honouring Beckstead is being entrusted to Hulse, Playfair, and McGarry once his family has had time to deal with the tremendous loss. The family would be grateful for donations in memory of Merv to Hospice Renfrew or the Perley-Rideau Veterans Health Centre.
(written by Kasey Egan)