I am a member of that generation lucky enough to learn from our parents, but also from the extended family made up of uncles, aunts and friends. The advice, the conversations with other adults who could guide us towards a fuller life, were strongly encouraged.

Which is why, very quickly, in my life as a young boy, my parents’ friends became my friends and their opinions were welcomed and respected.

Warren Chippindale – a descendant of the famous 18th century cabinetmaker Thomas Chippindale – was a great friend of my parents.

Warren’s father, Alan Chippindale, was born in Leeds, England, in 1901. Alan’s father left England to work in Denver, Colorado, and when Alan was six, he and his mother joined the father in the United States.

As an adult, Alan married and was the father of two children when the opportunity arose to open offices for Calvin Bullock, Ltd. and Canadian Investment Funds in Montréal, where he settled. Because he was originally from Britain, he was legally admitted to Canada and could obtain his Canadian citizenship after five years.

So it was that in 1932, when he was four years old, Warren Chippindale arrived in Montréal accompanied by his mother Gem and his older sister Marion. Young Warren was athletic and a good student. He played hockey and football while at Westmount High School. He also skied on Mont Royal and at Saint Sauveur.

He studied commerce at McGill and played hockey for the McGill Redmen. He also played junior hockey for the Verdun Maple Leafs.

Warren met the love of his life, Cherry Cameron, when they were both at Westmount High School. Their relationship continued at university and on November 10, 1951, they married at Holy Trinity Church in Westmount.

I remember the young Chippindale family in Mont- Tremblant in the sixties. Warren Chippindale was the financial auditor for MacDonald Currie at Joe and Mary Ryan’s Tremblant Lodge; at Gray Rocks for the Wheeler family; and at Cuttle’s Tremblant Club owned by Jim and Betty Cuttle.

Over the years, the family, which included five children – Linda, Debra, Nancy, Alan and John – spent their long weekends at Mont-Tremblant during the “dead season”, during which Warren worked for his clients. The hotels were empty and the children could explore the large outdoor and indoor spaces to their hearts’ content.

Mont-Tremblant charmed the Chippindales and they decided, with their great friends Bud and Dorothy Iredale, to each build a country house on the edge of the Cuttle’s Tremblant Club ski slope.

We skied in the winter, and in summer we water-skied and sailed, and played golf and tennis. I also remember a friendly rivalry between my father Charlie and Warren at the championships of the old Tremblant golf club.

At the beginning of the ’60s, Warren and Ernie McCulloch brought new life to the Tremblant ski club to allow access to competitions. Bob McLennan was hired as the coach.

Warren accompanied his children at the competitions throughout the Laurentians. His engagement was such that he obtained certification as an official and course inspector. He was proud to take not only his own children, but also other young racers, to the various races. He participated in league meetings in Montréal and officiated, not only in Montréal, but throughout the Laurentians.

Warren Chippindale was a wise and intelligent man. He was a Mary Ryan’s personal counsellor after Joe Ryan’s death. Later, he counseled the new owners of Tremblant during the sale of the property to Intrawest. He remained Joe Hussein’s personal counsellor and that of the Intrawest management for a number of years.

He created a financial and operational model for condominium rental which would be adopted throughout the Tremblant area. He participated in creation of the original Intrawest plan for the preservation of green spaces. He knew that major developments would occur, but wanted to preserve the essence of “Old Tremblant” as much as possible. Not only was he a visionary, but he was also a community leader.

Warren was not miserly with his time nor his wise counsel. He mentored many young entrepreneurs. During my years with the Canadian Alpine Ski Team, he not only followed my career as a young athlete, he counselled me … subtly, but oh so wisely.

In 1997, he was made a member of the Order of Canada in recognition of his fundraising work for McGill University and the Neuro (the Montreal Neurological Institute). In 2004, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Neuro. During his funeral services in May 2011, the McGill University flag was flown at half-mast.

His children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will forever be inspired by this exceptional man. As for me, I had the honour, for many years, to take part, every Saturday starting at 7:30 a.m., in a golf foursome with Warren Chippindale, Dr. Ed Monaghan, and Bud Iredale. I was one of them in spite of my young age, and this excellent Saturday morning ritual was full of wisdom, good humour and camaraderie. I had the benefit of life lessons … outdoors!

Warren loved and respected our beautiful part of the world which, in his words, “is only loaned to us for our lifetime.” That’s the wise legacy he left us.

More from this author by clicking on his photo below.