Tazjon Mark Anthony Atherley

Tazjon Mark Anthony Atherley was born on November 14, 1991, in Toronto East General Hospital (now Michael Garron Hospital) in Toronto, Canada to his mother, Sonia Hector (nee Dillon), and his father, Mark Atherley.

At the tender of age of 2 years old, Tazjon was diagnosed as high-functioning autistic, but he did not let this deter him. He grew up in Scarborough and started his kindergarten education experience at Lucy Maude Montgomery Public School under the tutelage of Mrs. McVean, his favourite teacher. Surpassing expectations and challenges, Tazjon eventually completed his high school education at Eastdale CVI located in Oshawa, Ontario. Tazjon graduated as an OAC scholar and was accepted into the Applied Mathematics program at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (now Ontario Tech University). Through the course of his university studies, trying to find his niche, Tazjon made a few transitions transferring first to the Health Physics and Radiation Science program, then to Physics and finally settling in at Durham College in the Chemical Engineering Technology program.

Soon after graduating from the Chemical Engineering Technology program, Tazjon pursued a post-graduate Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry at Trent University, with the intention of securing a lab research career in the pharmacology industry. He was in his final year of studies upon his passing.

On Sunday, November 14, 2021, his birthday, Tazjon Mark Anthony Atherley passed away.

Tazjon was survived by his parents, Sonia Hector (husband Allan Hector) and Mark Atherley, grandparents Sylvia Meed-Alexander (nee Dillon) and Carole Hood, his sisters, Maija Dillon-Foster, Roshanne Holton (nee Atherley), Sheneise Hector, Shantelle Hector, his brother, Allan Hector Jr., his nephew Zion Scott, his aunt Yvette Clarke-Headley (Calib Headley), Margaret Dillon and her children Renee and Brandon Campbell, and numerous cousins and friends.

Tazjon will be remembered as a loving man with a great sense of humor that worked hard, was very observant, loved to debate, challenged ideology, and was always more concerned for others than himself. He will live on forever in the hearts of those he touched.

In honour of Tazjon's commitment and passion for education, a Go Fund Me campaign was started to establish a bursary for visible minority students studying Chemistry at Trent University.

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Tazjon Mark Anthony ATHERLEY, age 30, of Oshawa, Ontario passed away on Sunday, November 14, 2021. Tazjon was born on November 14, 1991.

Tazjon Atherley is a son, brother, grandson, uncle, nephew, cousin, friend and will be forever remembered by those whose hearts he touched. He is survived by his mother, Sonia (Allan) Hector (nee Dillon) of Whitby and father, Mark Atherley of Toronto; four sisters, Maija Dillon-Foster (Zion Scott), Sheneise Hector, Shantelle Hector, Roshanne (Yannick) Holton (nee Atherley) of Maple; one brother, Allan Hector Jr.; two grandmothers, Sylvia Meed-Alexander (neé Dillon) and Carol Hood; one aunt Yvette Clarke-Headley (Calib), and two uncles, Darren and Adrian Atherley. Special mention to Margaret Dillon, Renee Campbell, Brandon Campbell, and numerous relatives in the Dillon, Johnson, Atherley, and Hood families. Tazjon graduated with a diploma in Chemical Engineering Technology and was completing his post-graduate studies at Trent University in Chemistry. He hoped to pursue a career as a lab researcher in pharmacology. He was a member of the Toronto East SDA Church in Toronto. Tazjon will be deeply missed by his family and friends.

Visitation for Tazjon will be held Sunday, November 28, 2021, from 1 to 7 pm at Jerrett Funeral Home, 660 Kennedy Road, Toronto, ON. A second visitation will occur Monday, November 29, 2021, from 10 to 11 am at Toronto East Seventh Day Adventist, 4548 Sheppard Ave. E., Toronto, ON. The funeral service will follow at 11:00 AM. Burial to take place at Bethel Cemetery, 737 Kennedy Rd, Scarborough, ON.

In honour of Tazjon's passion for education, a Go Fund Me campaign is underway to create a bursary for visible minority students studying Chemistry at Trent University. If you wish to pay it forward, please visit https://gofund.me/735f6f87.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.jerrettfuneralhome.com for the ATHERLEY family.