My sincere condolences go out to John's family. 

I knew him to be an intelligent, funny, fun-loving gentleman whose presence made the world brighter and a much more civilized place.  He was a renaissance man and an ideal individual.

I can remember enjoying many times with him over the years cheering for soccer teams, playing tennis, carolling or singing Jacques Brel at the end of a dinner party in his booming baritone voice - not to mention his truly exquisite hand writing!  He was sophisticated, kind and a joy to be around.  He will be sorely missed.

I was shocked to hear of John's sudden passing. I know he had been having some health problems, but never realized they were so serious. 

I worked closely with John during his time with Michael Wilson. Many hours we spent together working on speeches for the minister. Later on I found him a very good friend and visited him often in Montreal. 

He was one of the good guys and will be sorely missed. 

Peter Webber

My daughters and I are very saddened by the loss of our friend,John - better known to us as The Fieldmouse.My stepmother, Mary Collins, arranged for us to visit John when he was the deputy High Commissioner in Jamaica.  He had never met us before but he was the perfect host, generous and kind and very considerate.  He inquired as to my interests and then arranged dinner parties with politicians, journalists and historians every night.  One evening he entertained us all by playing his guitar and singing French Canadian folk songs.He visited us in Vernon and Port Moody and referred to us as his "little family".  Once he came to a federal election party at my house where everyone had to beg, borrow or steal an official sign from their,to put it politely, least favorite politician.  John won because he had been in the Okanagan and brought a sign from the office of the politician of the day.John had been on my mind lately and I was about to invite him to visit me in my new home in Puerto Vallarta.  It would have been just like old times with John at his  witty, sophisticated and kindly best.  I know Dibby only through John and my beloved stepmother, Mary, but my thoughts are with her and her family.  He was a good man and the world was a cheerier place with The Fieldmouse in it.

Ann Collins

Please accept my families condolences. My mother, Ann-Row Collins and my sister, Erin Gavin and myself Maurya Biswell, all have wonderful memories of John  when we visited him in Jamaica, he was a fabulous host to us. He was a kind, happy man who entertained all with his extrodinary wit and great humour as well as his singing. We all had a wonderful time and I will always remember that trip fondly. He also spend an evening in our house in Port Moody happily watching a Federal Election. He was a great man and will be missed by many. May he rest in peace!

Please accept my sincere condolences.  I worked  with John for several years at Foreign Affairs on Southern Africa files. He was always a cheerful colleague whose competence  I appreciated, and who helped expertly manage the many demands from the politicans.

I first met John when he was a student at the London School of Economics and we became good friends. We have kept in touch on occasions over the years and I was very sad to learn of John's untimely passing. He always impressed me with his great sense of humour, his commitment to politics and his big personality. And my mother - were she still with us - would say that she remembered how much John liked the English sherry trifle that she made for him when he visited our home. He was a very special person and my thoughts go out to his family in Canada.

I was very sad to hear of John's passing. He was a good friend and a long time colleague at Foreign Affairs.

Dear Dibby,
It is hard to realize that John has passed away.In trying to reconcile this fact, which has surprised and saddened me, my memories of John have come flooding back. Although it is ten years since I have spoken with him, and rarely in the preceding years,he has been a fixture in my mind since we were all children, living in the same house on University St. Having lost our Jon, too soon as well, seven years ago, I am aware of what a shock this must be for you. My thoughts are with you during this difficult time. My mother and Victor join me in sending you and Bob and your family our condolences.

I was deeply saddened by the news. John and I were close friends, both arriving in Ottawa from Montréal to begin a career at the same time, and later serving together in Vietnam.We lost contact in more recent years, but I will always remember his love of life, sense of humour, his easy smile, and his friendship.He will be missed deeply by all who had the good fortune of knowing him.

À la famille Fieldhouse.
J'ai été attristée d'apprendre le décès de John.  Un collègue au ministère, mais un ami lors de nos affectations respectives à Washington; lui à l'Édifice NAB et moi au centre des communications.  Ce que je me souviens le plus, c'est son sourire.  Il avait toujours un sourire, et j'aimais cela, car sa joie de vivre était transparente.  

À tous les membres de sa famille, mes sincères sympathies. Je vous garde dans mes prières.

John has been a part of my life since we were 15.  The fact that he in no longer there is divesting. My heart and sympathies are with his family whose loss is infinitely greater. We his friends will miss this extraordinary man, we have been privileged to have known him and shared a small part of his life.  Knowing he is no longer a phone call away is at this moment is comprehensable.
Jonny Chevalier [Ottawa, ON]

John was an intensely private person, a good friend and an immensely proud Uncle and Granduncle.  We will miss his wry wit, his humour and quiet compassion. May he rest in peace.
Margaret Lefebvre and Ronald Walker

I was very surprised and saddened to learn of John's passing.  He was a special person who will be missed by friends and family.

Dear Dibby,
My deepest sympathies to you and your family. I fondly remember you and John and the parties we had with a really great wholesome group of friends in the late 50s and early 60s. When I married Marc in 1969, we had the opportunity of seeing John from time to time for dinner. He was wonderful company -- a great conversationist, a world traveller and a good friend. We shall miss him.
Warm regards,
Susan Hamilton Phanuef

I was sad to read in this morning's Ottawa Citizen of John's sudden passing. Although I had not seen him for many,many years, our histories during the golden summer of Expo 67 and the year that followed intertwined in a way in which young 'twenty-somthings' can appreciate. When I moved to Ottawa, I often benefited from John's hospitality and friendship.
May his memory be a blessing.

OBITUARY

John R. W. Fieldhouse

21 July, 1943 – 1 November, 2011

Résidences funéraires Collins Clarke MacGillivray White Funeral Homes

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