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Aubrey Martin

Mr. Subway, fixer of objects, husband, neighbour. Born on Jan. 27, 1920, in Toronto; died on June 16, 2014, in Toronto, of multiple organ failure, aged 94.

It seems to be accepted that after age 90, a person is on bonus time. But Aubrey Martin was indefatigable, ageless even, and his sudden passing as a result of an infection was surreal. An unselfish, gentle man who never complained, he was curious about everything. Even in the emergency room, he was asking questions about the machinery around him.

An "accidental" Quaker long before discovering his Quaker ancestry, Aubrey became a reconnaissance photographer in the Second World War; when called to serve, he said he would not hold a gun and chose a non-combat role as a photographer with the Royal Canadian Air Force, ending as sergeant in 39 Reconnaissance Wing. Like many veterans, Aubrey rarely talked about his war years. He returned home to Toronto with harrowing photographs, and would later point to the pictures saying, "War isn't glorious. This is war." Thirty years later, while researching his family tree, he found he was descended from English Quakers, who oppose conflicts.

Born into a Presbyterian church-going family, he attended a United church before switching to Anglican when, in 1951, he married Wyn Mossop, whom he met at a badminton club at Oakwood Collegiate. For 60 years, they lived in same modest home in Don Mills, using the bedroom set he made from pine and box backs when they first married.

After the war ended in 1945, he returned to work at the Toronto Transportation (now Transit) Commission. He had started working there five years earlier as an apprentice electrician. In 1950 he joined the subway unit, putting in 15-hour days to help launch Canada's first subway system on March 30, 1954. Known to his colleagues as Mr. Subway, he retired as the TTC's manager of construction on March 30, 1985.

Rarely stumped on the job, he loved to tackle problems, to fix things and to experiment, inventing gadgets for the family. He packed his basement "hardware store" with thousands of tools, fasteners and remarkable collections. Need antique nails with square heads? Ask Aubrey. Granite stone setts? Ask Aubrey. Yard sales made him gleeful; when he found a router bit marked at $1, he gave the seller $5 (telling us it was worth $40). He ensured that daughters Wendy, Cynthia and Nancy developed their own problem-solving skills and were almost as handy with a tool kit. His résumé listed 22 hobbies, including that he liked to "help others with their electrical/mechanical problems." Largely self-taught, he had an astonishing memory for facts, figures, dates and details.

Andy Barrie, the former host of CBC Radio's Metro Morning show in Toronto, was a friend of Aubrey and Wyn. He served as celebrant at Aubrey's funeral service, and in his comments described the care Aubrey had taken to make a brass sundial, spending a year plotting sun points, its gnomon casting shadows over the heart he carved to mark his wedding anniversary. "He was not master of some trades," Andy said, "he was a master of all trades, and a jack of none."

Last Victoria Day, in his driveway by that sundial, Aubrey hosted his 60th annual neighbourhood fireworks show, waving off thanks and compliments as always. Four weeks later, he joined his beloved Wyn, who had died on June 21, 2007.

At his retirement event, in a modest speech that took one minute, Aubrey said: "Both Wyn and I derive a great deal of pleasure and satisfaction in doing things for others." Not just words.

Wendy MacKenzie and Cynthia Martin are Aubrey's daughters.

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