Michael Baine

We are heartbroken to share the news that Mike Baine left us on the evening of February 24, on his own terms, wrapped in the loving embrace of his beloved wife, Deirdre Gibbons, and his cherished daughters, Natalie, Tammy, Jodi and Ashley, after an almost three-year battle with cancer. Mike was born in Hamilton, Ontario on January 21, 1949 to Thomas and Winnifred Baine (deceased). He grew up in a loving household, playing every manner of sports and running wild with his neighbourhood friends.

In Grade 9, Mike moved to Ottawa to attend St. Pius X Boarding School, where he stayed for Grade 9, 10 and 11, forming lifelong friendships, including his best friend for life, David Forest (friends for 60 years). He returned to Hamilton for Grade 12 and 13 and stayed on to attend McMaster University. Upon completion of his degree, he took a year off to go backpacking in Europe and then returned to Ottawa to attend Teachers' College. In 1972 he returned to St. Pius X High School as a teacher, where he also coached basketball; many of his basketball team members have kept in touch over the years and have supported Mike and Deirdre throughout his cancer struggles. Not long after his teaching career began, his first daughter, Natalie, arrived, followed by Tammy, Jodi and Ashley. His girls remained his proudest achievement until his final breath. Mike's career took him to Lester B. Pearson High School as VP and St. Paul High School as Principal. In 1991 he was appointed a Superintendent with the Ottawa Catholic School Board. Upon retirement, Mike turned his attention to Child and Youth Mental Health, both as a consultant and as a volunteer. He was proud to have overseen the development, implementation and management of a Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Program in every high school in Ottawa. In his volunteer capacity, he served as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Youth Services Bureau, a Trustee with CHEO, Chair of the Provincial Board of Directors of the Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health, on the Board of Directors of Rideauwood, and on the Board of Directors of the Ottawa Children's Treatment Center. This volunteerism, combined with his incredible fundraising success (The Ride for The Ottawa Hospital, the CHEO Ride, the Ottawa Hospital President's Breakfast) led to him being awarded the Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers in 2019. One of Mike's best-known attributes was his ability to form and maintain friendships. He kept in touch with and had annual reunions with Elementary School buddies, High School friends, former students, hundreds of colleagues from the Ottawa Catholic School Board, as well as friendships formed later in life through his consulting work, his volunteering and his high-altitude trekking adventures. To know Mike was to love him! Eternal gratitude to his outstanding medical team who treated him with compassion and dignity throughout this journey: Dr. Christina Canil, Dr. Matthew Roberts, Dr. Alain Haddad, Dr. Hesham Abdelbary, Dr. Mohamed Abdelaal, Dr. Victoria Swan, Dr. Kaitlyn Boese, Dr. Jessica Roy, Dr. Viren Naik as well as the nurses/angels on the chemo wards and the legion of nurses and PSWs from Bayshore Health, who provided care at home. Left to mourn are his wife Deirdre, with whom he shared 25 action-packed years (they had hoped to make it to 20 years of marriage this July), his daughters and their families: Natalie and Chris Leahy (Ada, Thomas and Maeve), Tammy and Rafael Ochomogo (Isabella, Michael, Davis, Alysia and Myla), Jodi and Aaron Anderson (Wynne, Madie and Rylan), and Ashley and Elias Al-Alam (Celeste and Eloise). Mike also leaves behind his sisters Barbara, mother of Corey and Shari, Pat (Glen), mother of Erin, Reid, Patrick and Kendra, and his brother Terry (Eli). He was predeceased by his older brother Tommy, father of Becky.

Mike was a dedicated and loving son-in-law to Rita Gibbons, a loyal and supportive brother-in-law to Roise and Julian Hall, Rory and Lucy Gibbons, and Shaun Gibbons and Whitney Taylor. He loved and was deeply loved by his niece, Alicia Hall (Oliver) and his nephews, Luke Gibbons (Julia), Conor Gibbons (Catherine) and Brion Hall.

Celebration of Life with Reception to Follow: Friday, March 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Nepean Sportsplex, Halls A&B, 1701 Woodroffe Ave., Ottawa.

No flowers please. If you so choose, please consider a donation to the causes close to Mike's heart: The Cancer Centre at The Ottawa Hospital, The Youth Services Bureau and CHEO.