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Lou Parsons, 76, APTA chair in 1991-92 and a two-term chair of GO Transit in Toronto, died Dec. 29, 2010.

Parsons chaired the GO Transit Board of Directors from 1980 until 1993, appointed by the Ontario provincial government. He oversaw the expansion of the GO rail system beyond the Lakeshore Line to the region-wide system in place today. He later served as president of Orion Bus Industries.

GO Transit employees recalled Parsons’ connection to programs such as the employees’ sports club, fundraising, and social gatherings. Jey Ratnasingam, manager, internal audit, noted Parsons’ personable demeanor, saying that he genuinely enjoyed meeting new people and always remembered a person’s name.

Parsons began his career in real estate in 1959, establishing the largest independent real estate brokerage in Mississauga, ON, with partner Seth Taylor in 1965. He started his political career in 1967 when he was elected to the town council of Mississauga, representing Ward 2. In 1971, he became the youngest person ever elected warden by the County of Peel. He was appointed the founding chairman of the Region of Peel in 1973 by then-Ontario Premier William G. Davis and was re-elected twice as regional chair, serving until 1979.

The Vatican honored Parsons with the designation “Knight of St. Gregory” in 1984, in recognition of his years of distinguished service to the church. This honor gave him the right to include the title “Sir” before his name.

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