William Robert Mazurkewich, passed away peacefully on May 14, 2021. He was 87.
Born and raised in Fort William, Bill was the middle child in a Ukrainian-Canadian family of 13 children. His family faced the kind of economic struggles we can only imagine today, living in a three-bedroom home on Alexandra Street. Yet Bill (Butts), who came from a family of over-achievers, didn’t let financial shortcomings hold back his career aspirations. He carved out a path as an accountant for Caland Ore in Atikokan, followed by a 15-year stint at Ontario Hydro, all while upgrading his credentials by taking accounting courses and studying law. He loved politics, becoming Treasurer of the Liberal Riding Association in 1966. He told family he stepped aside to let Pat Reid take the liberal nomination for Rainy River District in 1967. He later served seven years as a councillor for the Township of O’Connor. Bill also poured much of his energy into his fraternities: he was Master at the Atikokan Masonic Lodge and joined the Lakehead Shriner Club where he became an avid rider on its Motor Patrol.