John Brian Molson

John Brian (JB) Molson passed away peacefully at his home on February 26, 2023 surrounded by members of his family. Predeceased by parents Harold E. Molson and Lila Marion Malkin, and brother Hugh Dougall Molson, he is survived by “the love of his life”, his partner and wife of 33 years Mary Elizabeth (Scott) Molson, his sons Michael John and Dougall James (Valérie), and his beloved grandchildren Zacharie and Violette.

Born on June 24, 1934, JB practised as a trial lawyer for nearly 40 years. While engaging with vigour in a long and successful career, he took to heart the lesson he was taught first by his grandfather and that was reinforced by the people JB looked up to as friends, mentors and examples throughout his life: “you're not on this earth to help yourself – you’re here to help others". It was advice he remembered and shared to the end.

His service to his community included chairing the Partners with Youth campaign for the Downtown YMCA, volunteering as director of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Sunny Hill Hospital, and Turning Point Recovery Foundation, and serving countless hours with the St. Paul's Hospital Foundation in its early days. He was also a long-time, active member of the Vancouver Lawn and Tennis Club, and Warden at St. Mary’s Anglican church. Along the way he found time to be a volunteer coach with Kerrisdale youth little league and soccer teams. He was a “friend of Bill W.” for 38 years and a co-founder of the Law Society of BC's Lawyers Assistance Programme. After retirement, he relished Wednesday mornings serving as a volunteer cancer car driver for 15 years.

JB’s friends were very important to him. Not a day went by when he did not call a friend that he had not heard from in a while. JB genuinely loved and was interested in people. He always had time to hear their stories and who they were.

JB received his early education at Trinity College School in Port Hope, Ont., but the young man dreamed of being a cowboy. After graduating from high school, he spent two years as a ranch hand at the Sugarloaf Ranch outside Kamloops. He finally yielded to his mother’s pleadings and agreed to go to the University of British Columbia, provided he could study agriculture. Friends at UBC motivated him to change course and pursue the study of law, and J.B. graduated with an LLB in 1959. He joined the Vancouver firm of Bull, Housser & Tupper, where he had a thriving, diverse practice for 22 years, including an early formative year when he was sent to Grand Forks to cut his teeth as a small town lawyer. He experimented with the development business for a few years after leaving Bull Housser, then returned to the practice of law – his true calling - until retirement in 1998.

JB was active and athletic his whole life, playing tennis and skiing into his 80s. He loved his summers at Trinity Bay on Bowen Island, his years skiing in Sun Valley, Idaho, and his fly fishing adventures in the BC interior.

In lieu of flowers, please consider giving to Ronald McDonald House or a charity of your choice. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.