WESTERGAARD, KNUD January 18, 1937 – October 25, 2018 Knud Westergaard passed away unexpectedly while on vacation in Ecuador with some of his dearest friends.
He leaves behind his wife and love of 46 years Yoneko (Shinozaki), their sons Peter (married to Heather Dale) and Paul (married to Emilie) as well as his sister-in-law Dagny Christensen in Haderslev, while his beloved younger brother Finn Westergaard passed away almost a decade ago.
Knud was born in Haderslev, Denmark, and earned an MBA and Marketing Degree in Copenhagen. Knud’s career led him to Hong Kong where he started his family and then to Toronto in 1975. Knud was a man perpetually finding ways to serve his community. He served as Managing Director of the Danish Dairy Board’s activities in Canada, operating the well-known and beloved Danish Food Centre and Copenhagen Room Restaurant on Bloor Street. Knud helped to found the Danish Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Toronto, for which he also served as executive director and chairman. Knud was also once president of the Scandinavian Canadian Business Association and has been a member of the Rotary Club of Toronto since 1978. He was recently honoured to celebrate 20 years as a Copenhagen Goodwill Ambassador.
Knud’s great passion was music. In his younger days he enjoyed playing tuba and trombone in bands in Denmark. He also deeply enjoyed playing the piano, listening to his vast collection of LPs and CDs and arranging tours for Friends of the Canadian Opera Company. In 1980 he became the founding Toronto branch chairman of the Danish expatriate organization IBF and continued to serve as Toronto’s branch chair for 20 years. It was one of his preferred pastimes and he almost never missed the international yearly Balut Championship.
In 1999 he was knighted in the Order of Dannebrog by Her Majesty, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, for his contributions towards trade and cultural relations between Canada and Denmark.
Memorial services will be held at the Danish Lutheran Church of Toronto (72 Finch Ave. W.) on Monday, November 5th, at 11:00 a.m. followed by a reception.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Rotary Club of Toronto, the Danish Lutheran Church in Toronto, the Momiji Health Care Society or a charity of your choice would be appreciated.