Wayne Alexander McFarlane passed suddenly at the age of 78 at his home on the morning of January 31, 2025, with Michael Armistead, his life partner and best friend of 24 years at his side. His daughter, Laura McFarlane Bodell, was also at his side in hospital.
He was proudly born and raised on a farm in Shelburne, Ontario, by his parents Hazel and Forbes McFarlane.
Wayne graduated Guelph University as a CPA and was a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Accountants of Ontario and worked a full and successful career leading Human Resources with PricewaterhouseCoopers for over 30 years. He was also a Paul Harris Fellow.
In his retirement, he spent 15 years as Executive in Residence at Ryerson’s Ted Rogers School of Management (now TMU) helping MBA students find their career paths. This was his lifelong passion and was recognized with the first Distinguished Professional Advisor Emeritus awarded to a non-academic at Ryerson University.
Taken too soon, Wayne was loved by all he met. He was the life and soul in every room, loved people, loved his family dearly, loved helping people – particularly students, and loved a great party with his friends at Lora Bay! He was my partner in everything, my confidant, my best friend, – we will miss him every day. He was proud to be a great grandpa and loved all things Tina Turner – Wayne, partner, Dad, Grandpa and friend is Simply the Best!
Wayne will be missed by his partner Michael Armistead, daughter Laura McFarlane Bodell, son-in-law Derron Bodell, grandsons Alex and Forbes McFarlane Bodell, great-granddaughter Lilly Bodell, sister Anne McFarlane, and many wonderful friends.
A celebration of Wayne’s life will take place at Lora Bay Clubhouse, a place near and dear to his heart, on Friday, February 7, 2025, from 2 until 5 p.m., with tributes shared at 3 o’clock.
“I have witnessed first-hand the unlimited potential of the students at this school and to ensure lasting support for the excellence of our future leaders, I would like to establish this scholarship.”
As your expression of sympathy, and in lieu of flowers, donations to the Wayne McFarlane Scholarship would be greatly appreciated and may be made directly at https://secure.donate2torontomu.ca/registrant/DonationPage.aspx?eventid=383968&langpref=en-CA&Referrer=direct%2fnone
or through the Ferguson Funeral Home, 48 Boucher St. E., Meaford, ON, N4L 1B9, to whom arrangements have been entrusted.
