Warren Wanson's Legacy
Published Thursday, December 8, 2022
“He felt strongly that the Hospital here should grow”
Warren Wanson’s Legacy
Warren Wanson was as private, compassionate and generous in life as he was after his passing two years ago.
“My brother was good to his family and friends, said his brother Peter. “He’d give the shirt off his back to anyone who needed it.” There was a time, Peter recalls, when Warren asked if he would need any assets from his estate. Peter answered no and that was the end of the conversation. “Warren was very private”, said Peter. “We didn’t really talk about these kinds of things.”
With a strong commitment to community, Warren decided to support the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation with a considerable portion of his estate residue. Recognizing that health care needs change all the time, Warren chose to designate his gift to the Foundation to the area of greatest need. “I think he just felt strongly that the hospital here should grow,” Peter said, “and that it is important to the city and region that we have the best possible hospital.”
In his obituary, Warren was described as honest, dependable, resourceful and as a thoughtful and soft spoken man with maybe a hint of Finnish “sisu”.
When asked what he would want people to know about Warren, Peter highlighted his brother’s education and his talent as a marksman. “He’d like to be remembered for achieving his doctorate (Ph.D. in Parasitology), as he was the only family member to go this far in education,” said Peter. “Also Warren was a very good marksman with a special interest in gun safety.” He was an avid outdoorsman since his youth and had taught gun safety courses locally for many years.
While many people don’t think of themselves as having the means to make a difference, a gift in a Will often allows an individual to leave a much larger gift than would be possible in their lifetime. The collective impact of gifts like Warren’s have the ability to transform the future of healthcare. To recognize Warren’s generosity, the third floor terrace has been named in his honour. His generosity is a constant reminder to us all of the power of potential.
If you would like to discuss a legacy gift to the Foundation, please call Lee-Anne Camlin, Legacy Giving Officer, at 684-7110 or email her at lee-anne.camlin@healthsciencesfoundation.ca