CHARLES MASSEY SCRIVENER
September 8, 1954 – September 4, 2026
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Charles “Charley” Massey Scrivener on September 4, 2026, at the age of 71, following a courageous three-year battle with cancer.
Charley was the beloved husband and best friend of Patricia Lally Scrivener (née Phelan), with whom he shared 28 wonderful years of marriage. He was a loving father to Katherine Scrivener (Philip Olsen), James Scrivener (Heather Caffrey), Melissa Hogan (James Kirby) and Christopher Garcia (Beatriz), and a deeply loved grandfather to Marquis Hogan, Noah Garcia, Aria Garcia, Ava Garcia, Pippa Olsen, Kai Olsen and Henry Scrivener.
Charley was predeceased by his parents, Richard Harding Scrivener and Margaret Mary Scrivener (née Howse). He is survived by his siblings, Paul Scrivener (Brenda Kritzer), Louise Scrivener and John Scrivener (Stella Powelczyk), as well as nieces Laura, Andrea and Marni.
Born and raised in Toronto, Charley attended Upper Canada College, where he nurtured friendships that began in Junior Form in the Prep and continued through his years in Howard’s House. Many of those friendships endured throughout his life. His passion for history had its roots there, along with his unmistakable sense of humour that became one of his defining characteristics.
Charley went on to attend both the University of Toronto and York University. His enthusiasm for history remained a lifelong passion, reflecting his broader curiosity about the world, the places he visited and the people he encountered.
His university years also began a lifelong association with Zeta Psi. Charley remained an involved and much-loved member of the fraternity, regularly attending its Commemoration Banquet and business meetings. Drawing on his background in finance, he generously contributed his time, experience and valued counsel to support the organization.
Charley enjoyed a successful career in finance, spending almost 34 years with CIBC before retiring in 2011. His intelligence, sound judgment and financial expertise extended well beyond his professional life to the organizations and communities he cared about.
After moving to Niagara-on-the-Lake in 2021, Charley embraced his new community. He joined the Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum Board in October 2023 and became Treasurer in October 2024. Though his time on the Board was far too short, he was a supportive, engaged member and a strong voice for the Museum.
Charley approached life with curiosity, enthusiasm and an unmistakable competitive spirit. Sport was a constant throughout his life. He played soccer and cricket in his younger years, enjoyed golf and was an avid tennis player. He played at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club and later joined the Niagara-on-the-Lake Tennis Club, where he valued the camaraderie as much as the competition.
He also possessed a wonderful sense of adventure. Charley loved motorcycle riding and the freedom of a long road ahead. Favourite journeys took him through upstate New York, along the California coast and the Amalfi Coast, where winding roads and spectacular scenery perfectly suited him.
Some of his fondest early memories were rooted in family places. At the family farm in Belhaven, Ontario, his youth included mucking stalls and helping raise purebred Aberdeen Angus. He also treasured summers spent at the family cottage on Toronto Island and later Eastbourne on Lake Simcoe.
Above all, Charley was a sailor.
A longtime member of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club, he served as Vice Commodore from 2005 to 2007 and more recently became a member of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Sailing Club. Over the years he loved both racing and cruising, but his favourite place was always behind the helm of his sailboat, with the wind in the sails and open water ahead.
Sailing captured much of what Charley loved about life: skill and competition, freedom and adventure, friendship and the promise of whatever might lie beyond the horizon.
Charley also loved to travel, sharing many of his greatest adventures with Patricia. Together they travelled the world, explored new places and created a lifetime of memories. She was his constant companion, partner in adventure and the great love of his life.
Those fortunate enough to know Charley will remember someone impossible to forget: handsome and charming, intelligent and curious, quick-witted and wonderfully sarcastic. He could make people laugh with a perfectly timed observation, delivered when it was least expected.
Beneath the wit was an exceptionally kind, gentle and loving man. Charley was deeply loyal to his friends, devoted to his family and generous with his time and talents. He treasured friendships that stretched back decades and gave freely to the schools, clubs and communities that had enriched his life.
Charley faced his three-year battle with cancer with tremendous courage. Through an extraordinarily difficult chapter, his strength, humour, intelligence and love for his family remained very much a part of him.
His greatest legacy lives in the people whose lives he touched: family, lifelong friends, fraternity brothers, sailing companions, tennis partners, colleagues and community members.
He will be remembered in the places he loved, in friendships that lasted a lifetime, on a winding coastal road, in an obscure piece of history he almost certainly would have known something about—and, perhaps most of all, on the water: behind the helm, the sails full, with open water ahead.
Charley lived adventurously, laughed often and loved deeply. He was loved beyond measure and will be profoundly missed.
A Celebration of Charley’s life will be held on September 27, 2026, at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club Island Clubhouse. Further details will be shared with family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Charley’s memory may be made in support of cancer research or to a favourite charity.
Forever loved, forever remembered and forever missed.
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In lieu of flowers, donations in Charley’s memory may be made in support of cancer research or to a favourite charity.
