Obituary of Peter Thomas MCGOURTY

May 28, 1946 – Moncton, New Brunswick
February 27, 2021 – Calgary, Alberta

Peter Thomas McGourty, age 74, of Calgary, passed away on February 27, 2021 at Calgary, AB after a prolonged battle with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Peter was born on May 28, 1946 in Moncton N.B. to Mary (Downing) and Jim McGourty.  His childhood years were spent in Moncton until age 10 when he moved to Montreal, QC, where he graduated from Father McDonald Memorial High in St. Laurent. In 1970, he graduated in Engineering from the University of Waterloo, ON. He worked in Consulting Engineering with Montreal Engineering Co. and later other Consulting companies as an Instrumentation Engineer for projects in Electrical Power Generation (Thermal and Nuclear), Mining, and Pulp & Paper in SK, NS, NB, QC. He relocated with his projects and later lived in Dartmouth, NS for several years where his main projects were designs for the Imperial Oil Refinery.  In 1995 he settled in Calgary, where he worked as an Instrumentation & Controls Engineer in the Oil and Gas Industry, until his retirement in 2018. He had been an active Professional Engineer, member of APEGA from 1995 to 2018, when he was granted Life Membership with APEGA. He became a member of the International Society of Automation (ISA) in 1986, and was recognized as Sr. Life Member in 2016.

Peter lived an active life enjoying many sports including skiing, tennis, karate, occasional golf, and hockey in earlier years. He also loved nature and the outdoors including fly fishing, tent camping for many years and in later years camping trips with his wife Shirley in their Trillium Trailer. Despite his diagnosis with IPF on June 18, 2009, he continued to live an active life. He was very appreciative of the educational and moral support received at regular meetings with the Calgary Pulmonary Fibrosis Support Group.

Peter married his loving wife Shirley on June 26, 2004 in Calgary at St. Mary’s Cathedral. They had initially met at St. Mary’s in 2001, after Shirley had emigrated from the Philippines to BC and later AB. Together they built a beautiful life in Calgary where they worked hard and were enriched with travel, family and wonderful friends.

Peter loved all of his family very much. He was a wonderful father and grandfather. His daughter and his grandchildren were his pride and joy and his family will always be grateful for their memories together at Stampede, Banff, hockey tournaments, family trips and days on the Mira River in Cape Breton.

Peter is survived by his beloved wife Shirley McGourty, his daughter Sarah Burman and son-in-law Daniel Burman of Sydney, NS; and his three grandchildren, Luke, Marc and Zoe Burman; his sister Patricia McGourty of Boston, his brother John (Leslie) of Red Deer, his brother Mike (Janice) of Montreal, his sister Jean (Dave) Fenton of Tampa. Peter will be deeply missed by family and dear friends, but he will continue to live in our hearts forever. Peter is preceded in death by his sister Anne.

A Private Funeral Mass will be held at St Mary's Cathedral  (219-18th Ave S.W., Calgary, AB) on Saturday, March 06, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery Columbarium. Family and friends are invited to join Mr. McGourty service streamed live (see below) on the day of the service. For those who are unable to view live, a recording of the service will be posted. Condolences, memories and photos can also be shared and viewed here.

If friends so desire, memorial donations may be made directly to the Canadian Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, https://cpff.ca

Condolences may be forwarded through www.McInnisandHolloway.com

REST IN LOVE & PEACE

In living memory of Peter McGourty, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.