Passed away surrounded by his family December 12, 2018 in his 95th year.
Born September 2, 1924 to Ernest V. Hare and Edith M. Hare (nee Somers).
Widowed when the love of his life for 54 years, Elsie (nee Leach) passed away in 2002. Father
to 8 children. Cyril (Beverley), Lois (Brian), Robert (Jane), John (Jennifer), Russell, Brian
(Sandra), Philip (Kirk), and Patricia (Wayne), 16 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.
Predeceased by his brothers Alan and Cyril and sister Lorna.
John was born and raised in Port Credit. At 18 he joined the Canadian Navy and trained as an
ASDIC operator sailing on frigates and corvettes on convoy duty in the North Atlantic during
World War II. He survived the torpedo attack of his ship the HMCS Chebogue in October 1944.
A member of the Port Credit Legion, Branch 82 for 74 years. His father was a founding member
and John served in positions on the executive committee for many years including President.
He was instrumental in the design and construction of the current Port Credit Legion. John was
a trustee for the Canadian Naval Memorial Trust that is dedicated to preserving the HMCS
Sackville, Canada’s last remaining corvette. In 2009 he received the Minister of Veterans Affairs
Commendation for his work with veterans.
John had a long and productive life. He was involved in community service from an early age.
He sailed from the Port Credit Yacht Club as a young man and he and his brother Alan’s names
are on a number of trophies in the club trophy cabinet. He was a sidesman at Trinity Anglican
Church and Warden at St. Luke’s Anglican Church. He served as Scout Master for the Port
Credit Sea Scouts and coached hockey, baseball and lacrosse. He was a volunteer firefighter in
Port Credit and the first Fire Chief of the Oro Township Fire Department.
John was an electrician and a member of Local 353 of the IBEW for over 70 years. He also
fulfilled the duties of the Returning Officer for a number of federal and provincial elections in
the former Peel County.
John built the family house on Helene St. in Port Credit opposite where the GO Station is today.
In 1968 he moved his family from Port Credit to the farm in Oro. All of the children have fond
memories of growing up on the farm. He will be sadly missed at all of the family gatherings.
Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held in the spring. In lieu of flowers
please make a donation to a charity of your choice.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of John Jack Louis Hare RCNVR September 2 1924 December 12 2018 (age 94)..
Source: LeClair Cremation Centre Inc
Death notice for the town of: Midland, Province: Ontario
Jack Hare :
Jack and I still in our RNCVR uniforms ( Sept 1945 ) hitchhiked from Port Credit for a month , visiting New York , Washington , Kentucky and of course ask the places in between.
Jack was a great friend !
On behalf of the Latham family I send heartfelt condolences. I have many fond memories of Uncle Jack. He will be missed.
My Uncle Jack was in my eyes a great family member. He was a fantastic husband to my Aunt Elsie, his wife for 54 years and looked after her during her illness, was with my aunt right up to the end. I remember the hockey rinks he built in Port Credit and the many hours of hockey playing I did with my cousins. He supported his 6 boys and 2 girls, a 10 plus with the many activities he had them entered into from swimming lessons at the Lions Club swimming pool in Port Credit, his coaching of lacrosse and hockey. When they moved to the farm in Oro-Medonte Township, we were able to join the entire Hare family my cousins, for corn roasts, barbeques, and the evening football games and of course the many road hockey games. I remember during a winter storm, I was not able to get home from Orillia for at least 3 days, Once a main road was opened, my uncle sent one of his sons to meet me via snow machine, where the roads were blocked by huge snow drifts and we were only able to get back to the farm. We had to wait another day for the township to open the roads and then after staying the night was able to get another mile and a half down the road to get home. My uncle would come and help open up our driveway by bringing his tractor with his blower on the back to keep the driveways open in those days where the snow was so incredibly deep. Yes, I will miss my uncle, he did so many things but the respect I have for him, wondering as I got older, what he must have experienced in World War 2, fighting for our freedom that we were allowed to experience in our daily lives going forward. He must have faced a lot of dark days but he came through it and became a better person towards others in life. I admired him for always allowing his children to express their own personal opinions on any subject.