Noel John Godfrey Lewis-Watts

Beloved Noel is flying free! Noel John Godfrey Lewis-Watts left this earth on Monday morning December 8th, 2025, at home,  surrounded by love. Just as he wanted it. Noel celebrated his 96th birthday  one week before.

              Noel lived life to the fullest. His great adventure began  December 1st, 1929, in Toronto, Ontario. He was the youngest child of George Lewis-Watts and Ruby Aldridge. Siblings were Desmond, Aubrey, Paul (BB)and Beatrice (all pre-deceased Noel.)  Noel was a proud Canadian and deeply connected to his Ontario roots. Noel was a family man. His first wife was Marilyn Fischer and the mother of his three beloved children: Bruce (Sue Henderson,) Nancy and Ric/Richard. Noel was also married to Bev Scruton and then to the Old Crone, Margaret Murphy. Other cherished family members include: grandson Lou Cerqua (Katie and daughters, Gracie, Annie and Rosie), nephews Robert Lewis-Watts/Rob  (Maryanne  and family), Don Lewis-Watts (Aki and family), and Peter Lewis-Watts (deceased, Tara and family,) and  grand-nieces Laura (John Hassell and son AJ) and Cara (Sacha Campion and daughter Rowan).  Noel was also well loved by Michael and Beverley Murphy and family. He was blessed with many great friends. Don Perry (DW) was a lifelong friend who shared many wild and woolly adventures with Noel. Noel treated all his friends like family and was always ready to lend a hand, no matter the request.

Young Noel grew up in Toronto attending local schools. At age sixteen, he launched into his many life adventures: working  in logging camps, on Norwegian freighters, and operating power stations in Ontario  and British Columbia. In the early 1950’s, Noel was one of the first power station operators at the new Alcan smelter in Kitimat, BC. On his return to Ontario, Noel joined the Metropolitan Toronto Police force, serving in many divisions: marine, motorcycle/traffic, emergency task force, and during his final years, as safety officer in the schools.  After retirement from the police force, Noel’s activities and interests blossomed even further.

Ever curious, Noel fully embraced life. His many interests included:  sailing with family and friends, skydiving, deep sea diving, playing the guitar and harmonica, joining a barbershop chorus, white-water canoeing, long distance cycling, competitive squash, astronomy, wood-working, kayaking the waterways of Ontario and British Columbia, wine-making and at age 75, paragliding off the mountains  and cliffs of BC. Noel released his many creative talents later in life: producing and hosting a radio show for children, Sweet Dreams, producing and recording a CD with stories and music for children and their families, and playing harmonica in various  local bands and  at seniors’ residences. Noel was also Sound Man and storyteller extraordinaire with the Around Town Tellers in Nanaimo BC.

Noel’s many  gifts to the world include: his genuine kindness, his boundless curiosity, his unquenchable spirit of adventure and above  all, his  deep respect, admiration and love of life and all people. He honoured First Nations culture and heritage. Service in community was most important to him. In Vancouver, BC, Noel volunteered with the Vancouver Aquarium, helping with the seal recovery programme and setting up numerous salmon runs. Noel was also an active storyteller and Board member of the Vancouver Society of Storytelling. Once relocated to Nanaimo, BC, Noel first volunteered  with the Nanaimo War Museum as an interpreter. Later, he volunteered for sixteen years with Nanaimo Community Hospice providing comfort and care on the Palliative Care Unit at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. Noel was fearless. And generous. And deeply loved.

In later years,  Noel had many health challenges. Yet, he never complained. When asked about his health, Noel always answered, “I’m here.” His resilience and unfailing optimism were astonishing.

When faced with a terminal diagnosis, Noel always expressed kindness and gratitude to his medical support teams, family and friends. Noel never lost sight of the wonders of the world. He reminded all of us of the importance of being connected to one another and to the Universe. A great admirer of poet Robert Service, Noel lived these line

“Let us probe the silent places, let us seek what luck betide us;
Let us journey to a lonely land I know.
There's a whisper on the night-wind, there's a star agleam to guide us,
And the Wild is calling, calling...let us go”
― Robert W. Service, The Spell of the Yukon 

A Celebration of Life of the remarkable Mister Noel takes place on Saturday, April 11th, 2026, from 2:00 – 4:00pm at the Unitarian Hall, 595 Townsite Road in Nanaimo, BC.  Celebration East for Noel takes place near Toronto, Ontario at a later date.