John received his PhD in psychology and philosophy from the University of Wisconsin and built his own house from the ground up in Lund. His knowledge of anything and everything was remarkable. A cultured and educated Renaissance man with deep roots in the working class, he enjoyed toiling in his workshop as much as engaging with his students at the University of Alberta as professor of educational psychology.
His many interests included his love for books and discussions, for existential philosophies and the arts, for sailing, hockey and golf, for carpentry and most of all for music. John retired early from teaching, a decision he would often question, and he shared his experience by writing a book entitled Essential Retirement: Psychological Concerns.
In his personal search for answers to the questions of life, he liked the quote by Sartre: “ The more sand that has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it. “ The cruel illness of Alzheimer stole this clarity from him in the end.
John is survived by his son Sean Osborne and his partner Helga Beer and her children Stefan, Daniel ( Cami) and Melanie ( Ben) and her five grandchildren. A celebration of John’s life will be planned with family and friends when we can all safely meet again.
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