I had the opportunity to work with John as a fellow school administrator in the YRDSB. He was truly an incredible individual. To Patrick, Emma and the extended family, I offer condolences. My best wishes to you in this time of loss. 

A short tribute: "Memories of You"...
https://youtu.be/yoIHaO52JEE

God bless you.
David


Our deepest condolences to John’s family.
Our youngest son enjoyed a special bond with John, being a fellow Habs fan (a rarity at QVPS).  
He will be missed.

John was the sort guy you immediately felt at ease with. I worked with John in the Central CEC in the YRDSB. Fantastic laugh and great sense of humour, John was somebody you  could always share a challenge with and know you'd get an attentive ear and down-to-earth insight. John you will be missed. Still remember bumping into you and your family on the Beach boardwalk in TO.  Rest well John!

Dear Legere family,

I have such fond memories of John. I was a student at AHS when he was a teacher, but got to know him better at the gym years later.  We always had great chats about hockey, family and our careers.   I feel so fortunate to have known him.  His smile and friendly demeanour is greatly missed.

I am so sorry for your loss.


We got to know John while he was at QVPS and just loved how kind and genuinely happy he was to be with all the kiddos! What a wonderful man to have as a mentor, one that will surly be missed. Grateful my kids had the opportunity to have him in their corner. Deep condolences to the family and fellow teachers. Sara, Steve, Ethan and Sophie Byrne.


I had the honour of working with John during my time as the chair of the SCC at Quaker Village. His enthusiasm, energy, honesty and kindness were contagious. He will be remembered fondly and missed greatly. My condolences to his family, especially his children, whom he spoke of often and proudly.

I am sorry to hear of John's passing - we worked together at Roselawn Public School - John was a very kind and caring person. I am so sorry for your loss.  May your memories of John and happier times bring you comfort.

Sincerely

Pat Cole 

My thoughts and prayers are with your family. You will be missed.

My deepest condolences to John’s family.  I lived two doors down from the Legere’s on Shendale Drive,   Many fond memories of hanging out with John and all the neighbourhood kids. Rest In Peace Johnny. 

Patti Lang

My condolences, and thoughts to John’s family and friends. John always exemplified a good attitude, outlook and demeanour for students and those around him. He will be missed. 

I was shocked to hear of John's passing earlier today. I worked with John at Aurora High and we had fun and shared many laughs over his years there.
We started the AHS playoff hockey pool and I remember the night he walked up to my place in the middle of the night to watch Canada play the Czechs in the semifinal of the Nagano Olympics. 
After he left AHS I would often bump into him and Gabe walking the paths around Fairy Lake.

Please accept my sincere condolences. He will be missed

Ian Morrison 

Dear Patrick, Emma and family,

Your father was a wonderful educator and colleague.  He was thoughtful, insightful and so caring.  He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Please accept my sincerest condolences.  

Lori Hall 



I had the pleasure of teaching with John at Aurora High School. John always greeted me with a smile or his trademark smirk and he was especially gifted at making me laugh.  John was a wonderful man and colleague who supported his students wholeheartedly.  I will miss his infectious laugh and his exemplary character that inspired all of us to be our best. 

My deepest condolences to his family. - David Steep

Dear Patrick, Emma and Family,

We are so very sorry for your loss. We are deeply saddened by John’s passing and will miss him dearly. 

We have had the privilege of knowing John and your family for over a decade, growing up on the court, with our kids often playing together with the Legere family over the years. John always had a warm greeting for us or our dog, with a smile on his face and energy in his voice, whether it was it sharing stories over snow shovelling or yard work. 

His caring interest in his local community and those he served professionally was obvious.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. 

Phil, Cathy, Julia and Colin Watkins

I had the privilege of leading the Supervisory Officers Leadership Program at the Rotman School of Management where John was an active contributor.
His combination of insight, humility and humour lit up the cohort.
We stayed in touch post-program and he impressed me with his commitment to his family & community.
I will miss him much, and at the same time cherish the contributions he made...

Dear Emma , Patrick and Family:

My sincere condolences to you all as we all grieve for the loss of a special man. I had the privilege to know John, first as a Superintendent of Education, and later on, as a close administrator colleague. It has been an honour to have known such an incredible individual. He always had such a kind, considerate and personable demeanour that made a positive impact on everyone he met. I will truly miss my dear fellow Habs fan, but will always remember our great conversations.

For the last year and a half or so, John has been part of our family. We welcomed  him into our homes and our hearts and we are sorely saddened by his passing. We will miss him and hope God will take good care of him. We would like to extend our condolences to his sisters and his children who he loved immensely.

The Melidy Family

Patrick and Emma,
I am deeply saddened to hear of your dad’s passing. I had the pleasure of working with him at the DDSB and was always struck by what a genuine person he was. He was a man of integrity who had a warm heart and incredibly warm personality.  He embodied what it means to be an educator who truly cares about those he served. He led with heart and always put people first. I thoroughly enjoyed my conversations with him about work and family. I also and know that he was so proud of you both and he beamed when he talked about the two of you and your mother. 
I am a definitely a better person for having known him. 

Nazneen Dindar
Principal - DDSB

I worked with John in York Region many years ago and had the pleasure of visiting Gabe and the children in their home.  John had a very positive impact on me and I remember his caring and supportive nature, both with students and fellow teachers.
His love for his family was very evident.

My heartfelt sympathy goes out to Patrick and Emma.

Pat Hayes

My heart breaks for you Patrick and Emma. Your dad made me laugh, and always loved the times we’d banter about Leafs vs. Habs, with some teasing and pointed jest too.  :) 

I’ve known your dad for over 3 decades within a circle of wonderful friends who I know just adored and loved your dad and mom so much. They both added to the richness of lives among our peers, and always sent their well wishes to us all, whether on birthdays or a reply to a post or during the holidays. 

May God Bless you both, and have the comfort in knowing how many people your mom and dad touched in a profoundly positive way in their profession, their family and friendships. 

Brian Stolte 


My heart felt condolences to the family. The Legere’s were part of my childhood. Those were the days when we spent most of our time outside and knocked on each other’s doors to hang out. We had a friendly rivalry between Shendale and Deeside, if we could turn something in to a competition we did. 

Rest in Peace Johnny


My deepest sympathy to John's family and loved ones as you grieve his passing.

Unfortunately I did not have the privilege of connecting with John very often, however when I did, I was taken by his warmth, kindness, empathy and understanding of human kind. 
And often...after our brief conversations, I walked away feeling like he touched my life in small
way. 
John struck me as someone who made a difference in people's lives on a daily basis. . .whether it was with his students in the early years, colleagues and family.
Our planet needs more people like John who gave unconditionally and left us all with the memory of how much he loved, lived and laughed. We will hold you dear  in our hearts John as we 'celebrate your life'.

Marjie (Hachey) Olmstead

John was my son's Principal at Quaker Village PS.  My son has learning challenges and John became an advocate for his needs in the school.  We always appreciated John's kind and easy demeanor and his love for  connecting with kids.  My family was so saddened to hear of John's passing.  My thoughts and prayers go to his children, whom he was so proud of.  When he met with us about our son he beamed with pride when we asked him about his kids.  

Sincerely,
Joe and Heidi Devitt

My deepest sympathies to Patrick and Emma at this extremely difficult time.  

I had the privilege of working with John at Aurora Grove.  His smile was infectious and he always found joy in the most challenging situations.  He supported my position within special education.  He showed compassion and a deep respect for my students.  He even joined us one gorgeous spring day for a very special field trip.  I will always cherish these memories.   Our community is just devastated.  Rest easy Mr. Legere, you will be missed by so many.   

We were neighbours of John and Gabby in Newmarket.  My heart is breaking for Patrick and Emma and the Legere family. Sending sincere condolences during this sad time. 
Jeri 

John was known and respected for his heartfelt approach to improving outcomes for learners and staff in YRDSB. The Ontario education community is greatly diminished by his death.  John’s legacy will include a commitment to check in on our friends and colleagues.  
His family is experiencing a loss beyond endurance - please know that we are keeping you in our thoughts.  

John,

Your infectious laughter and larger than life presence is what I will remember most.  You were an amazing colleague and friend and I will forever cherish our last conversation  and the laughter we shared.  May angels surround you and bring you peace.  God Bless.

Jodi Sepkowski
YRDSB Principal

John you will be missed. We had such laughs on Corey’s boat and I will cherish those forever. We had such good times in central. There was a supportive group and John was at the center of it. Thank you for being a wonderful colleague and  friend. My thoughts and prayers to Patrick, Emma and  family during this time. 

My deepest condolences to John’s family.  I had the pleasure of working with John at the DDSB when he first arrived at our board as Superintendent of Pickering Area.  John was funny, smart and incredibly sincere.  When talking with John, he gave you his full attention. The impact he had on his colleagues and students is beyond measure.  I am thankful I had the opportunity to know John as a colleague and as a friend.  I will miss you John.  Rest in peace.  

To Patrick, Emma and his family, my thoughts and prayers are with you all at this difficult time.

Nicky Williams


My condolences to John's family. John had such a kind heart and cared so deeply for both students and staff. He leaves behind a legacy that will be missed by many. We will never forget you as you're one of a kind.

Corina @ DDSB

John,

I'm going to miss that smile and your laughter. You were such a positive person.  Thank you for your friendship and your guidance. You will be missed my many. Rest in peace.

Richard

Patrick and Emma, my heart breaks for you.  Your father was a wonderful man. I had the pleasure of working with him while he was Superintendent of Special Education at the Durham Board. 

My deepest condolences, 

Tammy Bouwmeester
START Team

Heartfelt condolences to Emma and Patrick and extended family.

It took only moments when meeting John to know what his passions were, they were as obvious as his smile. John was a proud family man and father who was filled with love and admiration for his children. He admired their spirit of adventure and their heart. 
While working with John I know he brought his heart, experience and knowledge to find a way for students to find their passion and put a smile on their face. He truly made an impact in his career by assisting others to understand how important their contributions are.
I won’t forget his thoughtfulness in conversations and will miss his Habs humour.

May your memories bring you comfort in these difficult times and know his greatest legacy continues on in Patrick and Emma.

Rosemarie 

I work at  the Durham District School Board, met John the first day he came here, one of the nicest people I have ever met, and I told him that, even though he was a Habs fan.  My condolences to the family, he will be missed.

To the Legere family.

I extend best wishes and positive energy during this very difficult time.  I wanted you to know that John was always very kind and supportive of me and took time to talk and connect with all of the people with whom he worked.

He will be missed.

John Hamilton
Principal
Gandatsetiagon PS



John will be sadly missed by all. Such a kind man who lit up when talking about his amazing daughter and son but also while talking about the students at school. To quote John,... “these are the people that make my heart happy”.  I had the pleasure of working  with John at DDSB . My condolences to the entire family. 

We are very sorry to hear of your loss and will forever have memories of John's smile, positive attitude and kind demeanor.

Our thoughts are with Patrick and Emma

Derek, Julie, Jeff and Jordan Matthews

Heartfelt condolences to Patrick and Emma. John was proud of you both and spoke highly of you both regularly. 

John was a kind and empathetic leader within the special education department of the DDSB.  He made time to learn about the unique communication and learning needs of the students and advocated for them whenever he could. I am thankful for knowing him and working with him.  May his soul rest in peace. 

Thinking of the family and praying for strength and resilience at this difficult time. 

Anila 

John was a kind, caring and generous soul full of love and laughter. Spending time with John was a gift and I am grateful for our many years together as colleagues, neighbours and most importantly, good friends. We shared a special connection and like so many, I am a better person for having him in my life. I will miss you, my friend. My heartfelt condolences to Patrick, Emma and his family.

Thank you, John, for being such a friendly face at the DDSB Education Centre. Although you were only my boss for a short time, I knew that it would have been great working for you.

Sending much love during this very difficult time.

On behalf myself, Roberta, Nicole and Stephanie: John was a great person. So many fond memories. John was astute, warm, witty and truly one of the good guys. To say his death is a tremendous loss is a  understatement. We will  miss his sense of humor, laughter, kindness, nicknames and smile.  Our sincere condolences to Pat, Emma and the rest of his family.

Emma and Patrick,
I am so sorry for the loss of your father. Please know that you are both in my thoughts and prayers. 
Cindy Ashworth 

John - you deepened and modelled the value of being a good human being.  You would said “I expect connection, not perfection.”  You shared the importance of privacy when others asked for it.  You were a good human being through and through.  My heartfelt condolences go out to all of your family and friends.  

Justin



In the field of education John 
set a high bar leaving giant footprints for others to follow. 
All of us who loved John are honoured to have even been a small part of his life. Better yet to have been a friend to him.
Rest in Peace John
Thoughts and prayers to his family ❤️

Very sad to hear of John’s passing and our families thoughts go out to Patrick and Emma in these difficult times. Rarely you meet someone with such an outgoing spirit but that fit John’s personality to a tee. Recently reconnected with John at Goodlife and he seemed in good spirits as it was great sharing memories of hockey tournaments and the kids growing up.
Very sad to see a person with such admirable qualities leave us far too soon.


His strong presence will surely be missed by all who knew him  A man who gave all he had to his family and career in the educational system. I am deeply sorry for your loss God bless you all. 

Dear Emma and Patrick, Joanne and Sharon and all your family.
My sincere condolences to you all. My fondest memories of the Legere Family will be the old cottage days. John's smile lit up his face and the hearts of those he touched.  
Hugs thoughts and prayers go out to you all.

Tammy Naujok

Deeply saddened by John's passing.  My friendship goes back many years when John was approaching his vice principalship.  John was a very kind, caring and skilled leader.  Many enjoyable moments in Florida, usually in the pool, when John, Gabe, Emma and Patrick were visiting Gabe's parents.  Special thoughts with Emma and Pat at this most challenging time.

Patrick, Emma & family, my deepest sympathies.  My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

A heartbreaking loss. Our deepest condolences to Emma, Patrick and the entire family. 

A kind heart, a warm smile and an amazing sense of humour....that’s how I will forever remember you, my friend! XO

If hiring in education or choosing friends in life were like pick up hockey, then John would be your first pick. Empathy, advocacy, trust—just some of his benchmarks. After his hiring at Williams, I remember every next step John took, his wondering if he’d be up to it but he always was; always looking to put students on a great trajectory for life and he did. I am saddened by the later years but let us be grateful for knowing John and what he gave each one of us. 

John was such a wonderful, caring person and a dear friend. I am truly heart broken. His death is a tremendous loss to everyone who knew him. I will miss him very much! My sincere condolences to  Patrick, Emma and the rest of his family. 

John was a wonderful, energetic and loving friend and educator. My heartfelt condolences to his children and family.

OBITUARY

John Joseph Legere

August 7, 1964 – December 9, 2019

Thompson Funeral Home

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