Please accept my condolences on the passing of John.  I had the pleasure of having Mr. Corbett as a teacher & sports coach at Mount Forest Public School from 1961 through 1963/64.  He was a very respected & much liked teacher.  He was a great coach & gave freely of his personal time to coach our sports teams.  He is definitely one of my favourite teachers of all time & I was blessed to have had a lot of great teachers.  Rest in peace Mr. Corbett!  Paul Martin

Mr. Corbett coached my son, Justin, from 2006-2012... some great ball teams and some of the best times of his life. Now 27-years-old, and pretty upset over the news of Mr. Corbett's passing, last night, Justin told me a story I hadn't heard. Justin made Mr. Corbett's team as a 10-year-old, just weeks prior to Justin's mother dying of leukemia. Justin told me last night: 

"I'll never forget when Mr. Corbett came to 'Mom-o's' visitation. I was only 10 and I had only known him a few weeks. He had me take him around the room and show him all of the pictures, tell him about my Mom and what each picture was. I'll never forget that." Then some tears rolled down his cheeks, all these years later, at the thought of his old coach passing away.

You made a difference in my son's life Mr. Corbett. Thank you. I'm sure his Mom, Patti, was waiting for you with a big hug when you arrived. Please give her a hug from us.

Dan & Justin Fisher.

He was one of the BEST teachers and coaches I ever had growing up.
He was one that you don’t forget.
So sorry for your loss.

We were very sorry to hear about the passing of cousin John.
Our condolences go out to Muriel, Joanne, John Jr., Betty Jo and family.
Sincerely 
Bob & Maria Carroll

John -

You were a good egg, you called a spade a spade, endured and persevered. You led by example, ran the race, and finished well.

I will miss you.

Sleep tight.

Amanda

So sorry to learn of John's passing.
He put his faith in me and hired me at a young age and I stayed at the same school, Dickson P.S. for 37 years.
Thank you John for your knowledge, expertise and compassion.
He made this world a better place!

Deepest condolences to John’s family and friends. Always a sweet and kind man whenever I saw/spoke to him for diamond rentals.

Hi John

So sorry to learn of your Dad's passing.
I have such admiration of your Dad as a coach, supportive parent but mostly his character. He has been a very influential role model to so many.
I know you will cherish all the wonderful memories.
Please pass on my condolences to your Mom, Sister and entire family.

Brad Sims

My sincere Condolences to Muriel and his family. I had the good fortune of being John's secretary at Branchton and Dickson schools many years ago. 
He was a great teacher, boss and sportsman and he will be missed by all who knew him,
Rest in Peace John

Dear Muriel:

I remember the day that I met John.  

It was the beginning of my second year of teaching.  St. Andrew's Senior Public School started in September of 1965.  My first year was a Grade 6 class at Manchester School.  I was sent to St. Andrew's as it was Gr. 6,7 and 8.

I also remember the happy occasions when you invited the St. Andrew's staff to your home.  

Also, you were guests at our wedding. We'll be celebrating 50 years of marriage on September 22nd.

You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Judythe (Meek)  Cornell

I was sorry to hear today that my favorite teacher from St Andrews had passed. He was so wonderful and tutored me in history at his home that him and his wife shared on Osborne and I thank him all the time. We ran into each other at the induction ceremonies for my brother's ball team and it was so good to get to talk to him I wish your family the best as it's not easy to miss them daily. Bless your family. Bonnie Ward

John was such a fixture in the community and in my life. He’ll be dearly missed, but the example he set will live on in all those whose lives he touched.

I first met John a year before I had him as a teacher at St. Andrews in the early 1970s. As a journalist I had the opportunity to interview him when he was a principal, and would see him year after year at the skating races, and at Jr. B games at Galt Arena. 

When I coached T-ball and Rookie ball, he was a constant presence with the CMBA, and when we wanted to create the Cambridge Sports Hall of Fame, John was a key part of that effort. 

Like so many others, I found that wherever I turned, John’s presence meant that I saw a welcoming and familiar face. 

He gave so much, over so many years. Thank you John.

Our Condolences to John’s family and friends, he taught 2 generations at St Andrew’s School & Manchester School. He was very well liked and respected.

From the Pratt family

My memories of John & Muriel began over 50 years ago back in Mount Forest, ON where I first met them.  They had returned for a visit.
John had been a brand new, young teacher at Mount Forest Public School when the in-house custodial team of my former in-laws, Edgar (Paddy) & Ida Padfield, took him under their wings as he started in his career in education.  They related that there were several after school and evenings of shared chats in the custodial office on how things were going for this new teacher.  He obviously thrived after his many years with the WRDSB and educating many, many young people.  
His love of baseball is paramount.  He gave back to the community pursuing his passion.  A life well lived.
My thoughts are with Muriel and the family.  Blessings to all.
Judy Padfield
Kitchener, ON

My deepest condolences to the Corbett family.
Mr. Corbett coached me for two years in my teenage years. He was a great Coach who got the most out of his players. He then gave me the opportunity to start my own coaching career when I was in my 20's, as one of his assistant Coaches. 

His legacy will continue to live on and he will be sorely missed!

Joanne, Adam, John and Muriel:
We are so sorry to hear of John’s passing.  He was such a super fellow! We always appreciated his involvement with our sons during baseball season. It was always a pleasure to visit with him and Muriel, when they came to your house Joanne and Adam. I am sure he will be greatly missed!  We will be thinking of and praying for the family. 

Very sincerely,
Max and Marianne Purkiss

To the whole Corbett family;
My heart is heavy reading this announcement. John was a man of integrity, kind and loving.
He brought me to Waterloo County when I joined his staff at Manchester. His strength as a leader was evident from the first moment he spoke.
I so enjoyed watching him curve the students appetite at recess by running out on the field with red flags hanging out of his trousers. He was going to teach those kids flag football and keep them in a positive state of mind. In many ways, John showed us all How to be caring and nurturing. John loved Cambridge, and told many stories of Gault and his passion for the area. He loved all of his cities characters, and did his almost to bring Joy to the ones he touched. I will forever hold Jon in my heart. May you all find comfort in the days ahead as you reflect back on his many attributes and passion for the world. God bless.

To the Corbett Family;
It is with deep sadness that I read this. John was a remarkable man. He embraced me as I moved back to Cambridge, and started teaching in his school. A man of integrity. A man of pride. He loved his skating races and his baseball. He had a deep love of sports. And his passion led me to enjoy more from athletics than I ever had before. I remember him “curbing children’s appetite” for miss behaviour by go out on the playing field at recess with his little red flags hanging out of his pocket. He was going to teach those kids to play flag football!  John, backed to his teachers. John, backed to his family. And John never forgot those that cherished him as he cherished us all right back. His heart was as big as Cambridge and he loved all this cities many characters. I am proud to be able to say I started my career in Waterloo County under his loving eye and embrace. Forever remembered as a remarkable man.

Muriel,

I am so sorry this has happened. John was a rare and wonderful man. Kind, caring, soft spoken and a great mentor to generations of young people. Their lives have been made immeasurably better.

I know that you and your family will be impacted deeply and if there is anything I can do to help, please reach out to me.

John Andras

So sorry to hear this Joanne and Family
Many Great memories of your Dad

I had the pleasure of working with John during my second year of teaching.  As a principal, he was a strong leader who cared immensely about his staff and students. We connected again several years later through Cambridge Minor Baseball when I was coaching. His community commitment to baseball is legendary in Cambridge. He also coached my son Matt several years later in baseball. John Sr. and Jr. were tremendous baseball coaches teaching boys the proper way to play the game while sharing many life lessons with their players. There are many young baseball players in Cambridge who are better people after playing for the Corbetts and their staff. John will be greatly missed for many, many reasons!

OBITUARY

John Thomas Corbett

November 16, 1937 – September 10, 2023

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Updates

Services