John Campbell Blair
September 30, 1935 – April 26, 2019
Memorial Donation
Obituaries usually cover the basic information of the loved one who has passed. You get birth and death information as well as basic information on the family. Occasionally you will be told about professions, hobbies and interests. This is about a most beloved husband (Adrienne), father (Ruth, Donald [Karen]) and grandfather (Michael, Christine).
John Campbell Blair passed peacefully on 26 April 2019. His journey began in Glasgow Scotland decades before. His early years were spent in Ripon Yorkshire England during World War II where his father was building and repairing runways. John used to hide under the family dining table during bombing raids, and he would search the mountains surrounding the family home for shrapnel and other treasures of interest to a young boy.
The family soon moved to Ireland as his father helped to build the water electric system. They lived in Poulaphouca, Ballyshannon, and the last family home was in Lucan. John was fully educated in Ireland, where he started boarding school at Portora Royal School in Enniskillen County Fermanagh. While there, he made lifelong friends and stayed in contact with them throughout the years.
John was part of the Scouting movement in Northern Ireland and when the newly crowned Queen Elizabeth visited Belfast in 1953 he was on the lawn of City Hall to greet her with the Scouts and many others. Little did he know that his future wife was watching the same scene from an office window across the street.
As a young man he began an interest in photography that would last a lifetime. He would develop his own pictures and there are many albums with images from his early days. He always had a camera with him even on business trips where he would take pictures of the job sites.
When he was little he would build dams and other schemes in the garden so it wasn’t a surprise when he decided to follow his father into Engineering. He graduated from Trinity College Dublin with his degree in Engineering. Upon graduation he was presented with a one way ticket to Canada. Ireland was going through an economic downturn at this time and his prospects were better if he emigrated.
Six weeks before he left Ireland his roommate set him up on a blind date with Adrienne. He said he would go as long as she knew he was leaving soon. After he left Ireland their courtship was done by post. The postman would say “Sorry” if there wasn’t a letter for Adrienne that day. Thankfully the mail was delivered twice a day then so there was still another opportunity. John returned to Ireland and proposed, then returned again to marry her. They settled in Canada and raised their family.
John worked for Ontario Hydro, Rio Algom Limited, Aluminum Company of Canada (Alcan), and finally ended up with Kilborn Engineering Limited where he spent the majority of his working life. He was Head of Mining and Metallurgy and a Director of the company by the time he retired. He travelled the world as part of his job which meant he missed a few things with his family. By this time he had settled his family in Oakville where they have been ever since.
In the early days John was an avid Rugby player. He played for Trinity College Dublin, the Town of Mount Royal, as well as with the Saracens in Toronto. He was one of the founding members of the Oakville Crusaders Rugby Club and the first President of the organization. He eventually moved to the sport of golf and he was a member of the Oakville Golf Club.
John had a love of music. He played the bagpipes and was in several pipe and drum corps in his early days, and was Pipe Major of the Pipe Band in Elliott Lake. He also played the penny whistle to the great enjoyment of his family. When he would practice the bag pipes on December 31st to play in the New Year the dog would add vocalizations to his music. Music was always playing in family home. He enjoyed traditional Irish and Scottish music as well as Stompin Tom Connors and other Canadian musicians.
Family was important to John. His parents and siblings had moved to Canada shortly after he did so they were nearby. He doted on his grandchildren and was very proud of their accomplishments, and was always there to listen and just sit with them. He enjoyed getting on the floor and playing with them when they were younger. Michael and Christine have fond memories of the time they spent in the local parks with him, particularly since these excursions usually ended with an ice cream.
As a father, he was gentle and fair and great at helping with homework, particularly math. When he was home we’d have fun throwing a football around, going to the driving range or mini-putt, visits to the 5-Drive-In theatre. He was a Leaf’s fan, loved comedy shows like Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In, The Carol Burnett Show, Wayne and Shuster, and detective shows like Hawaii Five-0. On weekends we’d sit around as a family and listen to comedy albums or play board games. If you went to him with a problem he didn’t tell you that you must do this. He would discuss it with you and provide several alternatives and by talking it out with you allowed you to come to your own decision.
John was known for his wit and humour. One family member said that he was “a gentleman and had the humour of a rascal.” That was him in a nutshell. Everyone was treated with respect but he could come out with witticisms to add a spark of laughter when needed. While watching programs like Monty Python and Some Mother’s Do ‘Ave ‘Em John would laugh so hard he would turn red. Even during his difficult times you could see that glint in his eye that he wanted to say something witty and a smile would come across his face.
He had a love of animals and they returned it. He would often have animals he didn’t know come up to him for a pet or tickle. His parents’ house and his own were full of animals. They were a favourite subject for his photography and he could get them in funny positions and situations that would bring out their essence. The family dogs and cats would often curl up on his lap.
John, a beloved husband, father and grandfather, will be greatly missed. He has left a great space that is now filled with wonderful memories that put a smile on our faces.
Please send donations to the Oakville & Milton Humane Society in lieu of flowers.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of John Campbell Blair September 30 1935 April 26 2019..
Kopriva Taylor Community Funeral Home
Death notice for the town of: Oakville, Province: Ontario