Hamish Ian Fisher Simpson died peacefully, surrounded by family, at Lady Minto Hospital on Salt Spring Island, May 31, 2025.
Born on July 31, 1936 to parents Ian and Florence Simpson, Hamish was raised in Victoria, where he excelled in the classroom and on the sports field. He graduated from UBC with a BA in History and Math, studied Theology at Princeton for a year and earned his Diploma of Education from Oxford University.
In 1960 Hamish joined the teaching staff at Glenlyon School in Oak Bay and four years later, at the age of just 28, replaced his father as Head of School. He would lead Glenlyon for 18 years, overseeing a doubling of enrollment, a dramatic building expansion and transitioning the school from private ownership to nonprofit governance.
During that time he met and married Tricia McNulty, a young teacher from England, and they had three children.
In the late 1960s Hamish bought property near Vesuvius Bay on Salt Spring Island which would serve first as a summer retreat and eventually as a home and venue for many joyful family gatherings.
In 1982 Hamish left Glenlyon to become Director of Pearson College United World College, relocating to the picturesque Pedder Bay campus near the southern tip of Vancouver Island.
After four years at Pearson the Simpsons traded the forests of Pedder Bay for the towers of midtown Toronto when Hamish was appointed Headmaster of Upper Canada College Prep School. In his 14 years at UCC he was involved in a multi-million dollar revitalization of the Prep School.
Before his retirement in 2000 Hamish had been a head of school for 36 years–the longest tenured leader in Canadian Independent Schools, with an immeasurable impact on the lives of thousands of students, teachers and fellow administrators.
In retirement Hamish stayed active in Victoria and on Salt Spring Island volunteering in various trustee and board roles, and maintaining keen interest in the welfare of Glenlyon Norfolk School where, just last year, he was delighted to be honoured with a new building dedicated in the family name.
He was also an avid golfer and long-time member of Victoria Golf Club, and served terms as both Men’s Captain and President of Salt Spring Island Golf Club.
Hamish loved people and people tended to reciprocate. He could and would talk to anybody. He was smart and accomplished, but carried himself with unusual grace and humility. He was curious, kind and patient—a gentleman, in the truest sense.
He was a devoted husband to Tricia, loving father of Andrew (Jennifer), Rachel and Sara (Mike) and adoring grandfather of Addison, Lilian, William, JJ, Annabelle and Matthew. Predeceased by his sister Sally, Hamish was also very fond of his nieces Anne, Jane and Gail. He will be missed immensely.
A celebration of life will be held later this summer. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to the Glenlyon Norfolk School Foundation Financial Aid Endowment.
