Capt. John Reid Hannan

Born in Halifax, Reid moved to Victoria with his family when his father took a transfer with the Air Force in 1947. He attended North Saanich High School and pursued his passion for flying. He earned his private pilot’s license through the Air Cadets 676 Kinsmen Squadron, which he joined in 1958 when it was founded by his father, also named John Reid.

Reid started work on the ramp as a Station Attendant at Victoria International Airport, moving on to become a Reservations Agent and then a Sales Agent while pursuing his commercial pilot’s licence. His piloting career with Air Canada began in Montreal, where he lived for 22 years. In 1995, Reid and Lynn moved back to Victoria to be with family. He commuted to the Vancouver base to finish his career, enjoying a wonderful 42 years with Air Canada. Prior to his retirement in 2001, he ventured into the motorcycling world, enjoying this passion right to the end.

Reid married Lynn Watson, the love of his life, in 1963, enjoying 50 years of marriage until Lynn’s passing in 2013. He continued to love her and for the past year, his favourite TV show was Heartland because its central character, Amy, reminded him of Lynn and their courtship years. At the time of passing, Reid was watching all thirteen seasons for the fourth time!

Reid was a people person, a passionate family man who somehow knew where any Hannan relative was and what they were doing at any given time!

He was also a man of habit who loved his morning routine of going to the Y and his daily 3pm coffee with friends in Sidney. Reid made friends wherever he went. Whether it was Thrifty’s or a coffee shop, he wanted to know people’s names and their stories- and he shared his own. He valued genuineness in people, as well as respect and hard work, and he felt blessed because of the family and friends that surrounded him and who will miss him forever.

Reid is predeceased by his parents, Reid and Maude, wife Lynn, sister Sharon, and brother-in-law Bill.

He is survived by his children, Iain (Lisa), Fiona (Corey), Darrell (Nakiea), and two adored grandchildren, Lauren and Jack. Also left to mourn are brothers Wayne (Sharon), Doug (Gael), and Keith (Alison), along with many other relatives and friends across Canada and around the world.

Funeral services will be held by First Memorial Saturday September 4, 2021. Due to COVID, the service will be by invitation only. In lieu of sending flowers, donations can be made to Diabetes Canada (diabetes.ca), or The Canadian Cancer Society (support.cancer.ca).

There will be a live stream of the service which can be viewed at: https://funeraweb.tv/en/diffusions/35915