Biography
Bill “Bear” Kennedy was born in Leaside and lived in the community throughout his life. He attended Rolph Rd. Public school and Leaside High school. Bill was an outstanding hockey and baseball player.
Bill played hockey for the Toronto Marlboros winning two Memorial Cup championships (1955, 1956). He was Captain of the team in 1956. He also played for the Varsity Blues for four years 1958-62), and was the leading scorer two of those years. He was named to the Canadian Olympic team in 1960, but chose not to attend.
Bill played baseball with the Leaside Baseball Association for years, and was a member of the 1950 Leaside Rotary Peewee team that won the association’s first Ontario Championship. He was a member of eight city and provincial baseball teams, including being the shortstop for the Metropolitan Motors teams that won 4 consecutive Toronto Championships from 1953-1956.
Bill became a teacher at East York Collegiate and Cedarbrae Collegiate, touching the lives of hundreds of young adults and inspiring them in many ways.