It is with great sadness that the family of Ron Weyman announces his passing on June 26, 2007. Ron left this world peacefully in his sleep at the place he loved best - the Weyman farmhouse outside of Flesherton, Ontario, surrounded by his loving family.

Born in Erith, Kent, England in 1915, Ron came to Canada with his family at age 8. His artistic pursuits started early and he was acting, painting, writing and taking photographs, before joining the RCNVR in 1939, serving as Lieutenant Commander in the North Atlantic, D-Day and South East Asia theatres where his achievements were "mentioned in dispatches" to the Admiralty. He was also recognized as a war artist, with his work hanging in the National War Museum. He joined the fledgling National Film Board of Canada in 1946 and took his award winning documentary filmmaking skills to television in 1954 when he joined the CBC in Toronto to produce and direct TV drama. Over a 26 year career at the CBC Ron was a broadcast pioneer responsible for thousands of hours of television and the establishment of hundreds of careers. His key contribution was taking television "out of the studio and into the streets" in the 1960s with the groundbreaking series "Wojeck". His programs won critical acclaim, attracted millions of viewers, and created the template for Canadian drama that continues to this day. After retiring in 1980 he continued to direct, traveled, wrote three novels and a book of memoirs as well as several screenplays, learned to play classical guitar and returned to his first love - painting. In 2001 he was recognized for his contribution to Canadian culture, receiving the Governor General's Masterworks Award. Slowed only by age, he was finally felled by a stroke four years ago and has now found merciful release.

Ron will be greatly missed by his loving wife Vanna with whom he shared 60 years of marriage and raised five creative children - Cindy (Bisaillon), Jenny (Weyman-Chartoff), John ("Tiki'), Peter ("Bay") and James. He enjoyed watching his family grow with the arrival of 11 grandchildren - Tosh, Kit, Raffa, Caley, Jesse, Teo, Luke, Riley, and Emma Weyman; Chloe Bisaillon and Miranda Weyman-Chartoff. Holidays and weekends often saw the gathering of the family tribe at "The Farm" where Ronny presided at the head of the table with his toasts of "yo,yo,yo!". Ron also leaves his dear sister - broadcaster, writer and sculptor Rita Greer Allen, widow of CBC veteran Robert Allen; sons and daughters in-law Robert Chartoff, Heather Gilman, Anne Lindsay, Anne McClelland and Richard Partington; and nephews and nieces Astrid Weyman, Pief Weyman and Wendy Thomson. His family is so grateful for the time they were able to share with Ronny, even in his twilight days, and for the enormous, loving legacy that he has left behind. Fare you well, old sailor.

Thanks to all the caregivers who helped Ronny through his last years, especially those at the Queen Elizabeth Centre, and the South West/Grey Bruce Community Care Access Centre, Care Partners and Red Cross.

Cremation has occurred and a gathering of friends and family to honour his memory and celebrate his accomplishments will take place at the Arts and Letters Club, 14 Elm St., Toronto from 11am to 3pm on Sunday, July 8, 2007. Memorial Celebration at noon with reception to follow. No flowers please but donations are encouraged to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Online condolences can be sent via www.morleybedford.ca.