NEYSMITH, Peter Francis – Nov 11, 1937- Feb 9, 2022
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Peter Neysmith, a devoted
husband, father and grandpa. Survived by his beloved wife of 50 golden years, Ann Neysmith (Robson). Loving father and mentor to Mark, Daniel (Ashley), Angela Baird (Daniel). Most wonderful grandpa to his little princesses Emma and Lily, future engineer Thomas and fellow scientist William. Dear brother to Mary Dawson (Richard), Sheila (Michael), John, Joan Roy (Bob) and late brothers David and Michael (Wendy). Peter spent 55 years working in the field of medical X-Ray technology (Picker X-Ray and Communications & Power Industries Canada Inc.).
Peter was born in Montreal, QC. He was the third of seven children to Alice and James Neysmith. When he was 13, the family moved to St. Lambert where his niece and nephew continue to live in the family home. While working at the Royal Victoria hospital in Montreal, he helped his sister Sheila out with a delivery to her good friend – Ann Robson. This sweet shy guy fell head over heels and he wooed her with his knowledge of steam trains and ham radio talk.
Peter was an abstract thinker and quietly solved problems from a young age. While he was in high school, he did babysitting to earn money to support his hobbies. He earned extra money by fixing his customers’ appliances and doing invisible weaving for them. When he was a student at Catholic High in Montreal, he earned tickets to big events at the Montreal Forum for helping to fix the school’s appliances in need of repair. He studied Radio Communication at the Radio College of Canada and was first offered work in the music recording business. At the same time, he also received offers at CN Telegraph and Picker X-Ray, who won out (apparently they paid more so his mother said to take that one!) There he helped to develop the first Head Scanner and assisted in the first installation at the Montreal Neurological Institute. This Head Scanner was displayed at the biosphere at Montreal’s Expo 1967. Peter also helped develop Picker’s Stereotatic X-Ray machine used to diagnose Parkinson’s Disease, he helped develop Picker’s Stereo Bi-Plane, their Cardio C-Arm and he played a big role in the development of the Mammo machine in concert with the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal. In 1972, Peter moved to Toronto and there he headed the team that designed the Tomolex System for Picker X-Ray that won the Governer General’s Award for Excellence in Engineering. In 1989, Peter joined CPI -Communications & Power Industries in Georgetown and his team designed the Angiocon used to study blood flow in patients and he worked with the Mayo clinic in the development of this new technology.
Peter’s greatest accomplishment was his family. To them he was the king of ‘Dad’ jokes, a gourmet chef, storyteller, loving companion to his late dog Jake, educator and the most sweetest, innocent man who led by example in his faith and help and support he offered his community.
Peter, Dad, Grandpa you will be dearly missed but never forgotten.
Friends will be received at the Ward Funeral Home ‘Weston Chapel’ 2035 Weston Road, Weston, on Sunday, February 13th, 2022 from 4-9pm. Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, February 14th at 11am at St. John the Evangelist Church, 49 George Street, Weston. Interment to follow at Sanctuary Park Cemetery
In lieu of flowers, donations to Catholic Missions in Canada (201-1155 Yonge St. Toronto M4T 1W2 or HUOOP (Hands Up out of Poverty – Peter’s brother John’s charity in Kenya) 600-157 Pearl St. South, Hamilton L8P 3X7 would be appreciated by the family.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Peter Neysmith Wednesday February 9th 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Toronto, Province: Ontario