Born and raised in Ottawa, John spent his life in service to others. His decades with the Ottawa Fire Department remain a source of pride for his family and all who worked beside him.
John’s heart was always with his family. He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Maryann, his children Michael (Jennifer Farrell) and Rhonda (Robert Ransom), and his grandchildren Ben, Riley, Morgan, and Cooper, along with his great-grandchild Robin. He leaves behind his sisters Joy McLinton and Sandra Marshall, and is reunited with his late sisters Betty Levy and Audrey Echlin.
Visitation will be held on December 11, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at McEvoy–Shields Funeral Home & Chapel, 1411 Hunt Club Rd., Ottawa, ON. A funeral service for John will follow in the chapel at 2:00pm. Reception to follow.