Bill quietly passed away after a brief fight with cancer at Orillia Soldiers Memorial Hospital on Saturday, April 25th, 2026. He was born in Nipigon, Ontario, on May 19, 1955. He was preceded in death by his parents Donald and Evelyn Gapen. Also gone before him were his siblings John Best and Sharon Dorn. Bill shared a loving partnership with Richard Nolan.
His family, friends, and old coworkers will miss him dearly. There will be a celebration of his life on Wednesday, September 16th, 2026 at the Columbus Centre – located at 901 Lawrence Ave. West in North York – from 1:00 to 4:00 p. m. If you’d like to come, please RSVP at [email protected]. You can make memorial donations to Princess Margaret Hospital’s Malignant Hematology Department either through Simcoe Funeral Home at 38 James Street E Orillia (705) 327-0221 or directly to Princess Margaret Hospital. Feel free to leave messages of condolence at www. simcoefuneralhome. ca
