Tony Wilshere, born May 16, 1946, passed away peacefully on March 18, leaving behind a life marked by vision, enterprise, and a deep commitment to family, community, and creativity.
As a young boy growing up across the United Kingdom, East Africa and Canada, Tony dreamed of pursuing many careers. With a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Education, he set out to turn those ambitions into reality — and remarkably, he did. He began as an Industrial Engineer before transitioning into teaching, where he inspired not only in the classroom but far beyond it. As a travel tour operator, Tony organized and led thousands of students and teachers on enriching journeys across Europe and East Africa. His passion for cultural exchange and education earned him the rare distinction of being named an honorary citizen of Athens.
Tony’s career continued to evolve in extraordinary ways. He became Vice President of Transair, a Canadian airline, before marrying the love of his life, Roseann. Together, they built a successful publishing business, producing the directory for CNCP Telecommunications. This year would have marked their fiftieth wedding anniversary — a testament to their enduring partnership in both life and business.
Never one to stand still, Tony went on to contribute to the early development and distribution of HTML through his company Softquad, playing a role in shaping the modern internet. He later returned to publishing, founding Cottage Life Magazine, which earned “Regional Magazine of the Year” in North America for two consecutive years. His entrepreneurial spirit also led him to ventures such as Horseshoe Valley Resort in Ontario, and later to Mexico, where he and Roseann settled in Ajijic in 2000.
There, Tony became a beloved figure — serving as president of the Canadian Club, founding Hotel Villa San Francisco in Chapala, and developing Paseo del Cardenal in San Juan Cosalá. He was equally passionate about the arts, performing in numerous local theater productions and generously supporting music and cultural festivals, often opening his home to the community.
Above all, Tony was a devoted family man. He raised three accomplished sons — Keith, Christopher and Ryan — each pursuing their own paths with his encouragement and guidance. In his final years, he found immense joy in becoming a grandfather. He was blessed to spend time with his only grandson, Mark Anthony, born just 14 months ago, cherishing moments of play and connection that brought him profound happiness.
Tony will be remembered as a man of boundless curiosity, warmth, and generosity — an entrepreneur with a heart, whose ideas and energy touched lives around the world. There will be a viewing and small service on Friday, March 19, from 4 to 7 p.m.at his home, Nicolas Bravo 35, Ajijic and the funeral will be held at Saint Andrew’s Anglican church in Riberas del Pilar on Saturday, March 20 at 10 a.m.