John Robert Pattison

Died suddenly after a brief period of illness on July 23 , 2012, in the 69th year of his age. Dearly loved and deeply mourned by his beloved wife of 42 years, Clare , his two daughters, Susan Pattison and Sarah Holmes (Clint) of Kitchener, his mother Florence Pattison and his brother Tracey Pattison, both of Toronto. His memory will also be cherished by his many Masonic brothers, his numerous close friends, his former colleagues and a host of students whose lives he touched in the course of thirty-three years in the teaching profession.

Born in Toronto, Mr. Pattison spent his early years there, moving to Ancaster in his early adolescence. Upon graduation from high school, John enrolled at McMaster University, Hamilton, where he pursued a variety of academic interests, focusing especially on history, for which he had a deep, life-long passion. As well as attaining academic distinction, he was a member of the McMaster rowing team and wore its jacket with pride. He graduated with his B.A. in 1968. Later, while teaching, he obtained a Master of Arts degree in history from his beloved university.

Upon graduation, John joined the staff of Galt Collegiate Institute in Cambridge, Ontario. He was to spend all of his distinguished teaching career there, save for a 4-year term as the District Officer of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation. As a teacher, he was respected by his students for his depth of knowledge, admired by them for his passion and energy, and loved by them for his colourful personality, flamboyant manner and epigrammatic turn of phrase. In the role of school librarian he was reliably knowledgeable and helpful, introducing many students to research methodology. To his work as a representative and leader in the O.S.S.T.F. he brought a passion for social justice, serving as a fearless and outspoken advocate for those he represented and, indeed, for anyone who needed his help.

John was an active and devoted member of the Masonic Order, having served multiple terms as Master of Twin Cities Lodge No. 509. More recently he had been active in the Knights Templar and in serving as a senior officer to Grand Lodge. He was also heavily involved in writing about historical, philosophical and theological issues related to the Masonic craft.

John loved to discuss history, literature, education, politics and philosophy, and revelled in the cut and thrust of debate. He insisted on testing ideas from a variety of angles and perspectives, a trait which he worked hard to pass on to others. His opinions were strongly held, but never ill-considered or narrow-minded. He had extraordinarily broad and varied interests and could be relied on for insight into virtually any topic.

His friends knew him as a man of real integrity, who could be relied on absolutely.

Above all, he was a man dedicated to his family, who loved his wife deeply and took enormous pride and delight in the accomplishments of his daughters.

Visitation will occur at Westmount Funeral Home, 1001 Ottawa St.S, Kitchener ON on July 26th between 7 and 9 p.m. A memorial service for John R. Pattison will be held on Friday, June 27th at Westmount Funeral Home at 6:30 p.m. Instead of flowers, his family requests donations to Grand River Hospital or Cambridge Memorial Hospital in John's memory.