March On! ...the history of the
Toronto Optimists Drum & Bugle Corps
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Wendy Paquin
Corps: St John's, Les Chatelaines, Seneca Optimists, Anaheim Kingsmen Alumni
1951 — 2019
Wendy passed away on January 23, 2019.
Wendy was a member of St. John's Drum Corps from 1967 to 1972. After moving to Montreal she became an instructor for Les Chatelaines. In 1976, she moved to Toronto and began instructing the Seneca Optimists. She moved to L.A. in 1979, where she lived for 38 years and was a personal bookkeeper and massage therapist. In 2007 she fulfilled a lifetime dream of marching with the Anaheim Kingsmen Alumni Corps performing at the Rose Bowl.
Here are a few comments from some of those who knew Wendy.
"I’ll always remember Wendy’s energetic personality and her love of Weiner doggies."
"She will always be in my fondest memories of my time with Seneca Optimist and was grateful and blessed to have her for my colour guard instructor."
"She was in my life for a short time in 1978 but made such a difference. I will always remember her with fondness and proud to have been "Wendy's hot and juicy colour guard."
" She touched so many lives in such a positive way. The world is a slightly lesser place without Wendy."
"Such a sad loss for everyone who knew Wendy she was a wonderful and beautiful woman inside and out."
"Never forget when she arranged to call out our commands to the colour guard in French during pass and review to mess with the girls from Phantom Regiment who were talking about us (as if behind our backs) because they thought, because we were Canadian, we only spoke French. Wendy was a gem and left us way too soon "
"I have a wonderful memory of Wendy disguised as a Penguin to surprise Mary-Anne at her 40th (so long ago) birthday. And prior to that she was a most welcoming hostess visiting her when she lived in California. I envied her amazing free spirit."
Wendy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . We Remember!