Harold Stevenson Mawhinney
On April 4th, 2023 Harold Stevenson Mawhinney passed away at the age of 84. His passing was too soon for all who loved him, but an “Irish Exit” that was peaceful, and the right time for him.
Harold was born the youngest of six children to Andrew Thomas Mawhinney and Caroline Maude Allison on May 11, 1938. He was proud of his Irish heritage. Harold loved every minute of life growing up in Winnipeg, despite growing up in a time when you had to work for everything you needed and received. He also enjoyed and never stopped having fun as an adult. He often said he would “do it all over again”.
When it was time for a career, he started in data processing early on and never looked back. With hard work, competitiveness and an ability to get the job done and lead people, he reached the level of Senior Vice-President of Information Technology at Investors Group. After stints with the University of Manitoba, and UGG, Harold also spent nine years in Calgary with the Alberta Wheat Pool. While he was there, he accepted an invitation by IBM to speak in Strasberg, France about his experience introducing computers to grain elevators for the first time.
When Investors Group offered him a position he jumped at the chance to return home to Winnipeg. He was a big proponent of Winnipeg and all it has to offer and was happy being where his family was. After fifteen years with Investors, Harold retired to improve his golf handicap as a longtime member of Elmhurst Golf and Country Club. In retirement he stayed active in the community, serving as President of the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba, as Director of Technology for the 1999 Pan-Am games in Winnipeg, and President of the Elmhurst Golf course where he loved to play. Judy and Harold purchased a cottage at Sandy Bay so their kids and grandkids would come visit and spent seventeen years as snowbirds in Sarasota, Florida at the Palm-Aire Golf and Country Club.
He leaves to mourn his wife Judy, children Colleen (Mark), Gordon (Sharla), Tom (Brenda) and awesome grandchildren he was Grampy to, Kyle (Heather), Taylor (Megan), Shannon (Josh), Connor (Pola), Erin, Sean, Kealan, Addison and Capri, his sister Marilyn and brothers Gerry and Jack (Marge). He was predeceased by his brother Neil and brother Bruce. He was a “favourite” uncle to numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life will be held in the coming weeks.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the United Way of Winnipeg or the Alzheimer’s Society of Manitoba.