GUY, John Alfred - Lost his difficult battle with Alzheimer’s disease on April 2, 2020. He was comforted in his final days by the caring staff at True Davidson Acres, in east Toronto.
Camus could not have been more correct in writing "autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower", as a kind and caring man was born on November 25, 1931 to Benjamin and Adina Guy, in Clonmel, St. Mary, Jamaica.
He is survived by his loving and dedicated wife of 60 years, Elsie (née Lecky) and his children, Peter (Enza), Janine, Michael (Carolyn), James (Susana), and grandchildren, Jordan, Alyssa, Andrea, Michaela, Justin, Cara, Miquel, Ricard and Armand.
He is also survived by siblings, Evangeline, Judith, Kipling, Wellworth and Sharon.
He was preceded in death by siblings, Joseph, Iris, Moses, Mavis, Doris, Ethlyn and Jonathan.
John grew up in the St. Mary Parish of Jamaica, as a fifth generation descendent of Indian ancestors. His original family surname of Gajadarsingh had been shortened to Guy. During his childhood, his parents ran a general store in Belfield. One of his fondest early memories was marching with his family on Spanish Town Road in August 1947, to celebrate India’s independence.
John graduated from the Jamaica School of Agriculture, eventually working as an Artificial Insemination Officer for the department of agriculture in the Linstead area. In his later years, despite his relentlessly fading memory, he could still vividly recall details of this happy period of his life.
In 1957, John emigrated to Canada where he attended Queen’s University in Kingston. He eventually earned his designation as a Certified Management Accountant, spending most of his career with Johnson Matthey. After leaving Johnson Matthey, John started his own business, Detailed Financial Services, specializing in personal and small business accounting for more than twenty years.
John will be remembered as a kind and generous man of few words, with a warm heart and a big smile. He was dependable and always at the ready to support family and friends when called upon. These qualities are well known to those who served with him at Belfair United Church and Tropicana Community Services, where he volunteered and acted as treasurer. He truly loved spending time in the fresh country air at the family home in Hastings, Ontario, chopping wood and working on his many handyman projects. He was also a man of great faith, who enjoyed singing in the church choir. John would spend hours listening to classical music, sometimes playing hymns on the piano at home. He was especially fond of watching Western movies of all persuasions, playing scrabble and doing crosswords.
His family would like to pass along their sincere thanks to everyone that supported him throughout his illness. Many thanks also to the wonderful staff at True Davidson Acres for their efforts. As John’s disease progressed, and he could recall only his earliest years, there was solace knowing that the names and places he spoke of were familiar to the Jamaican caregivers who would interact with him daily.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer Society of Ontario. Friends and family can make their donation by phone (416-967-5900, Option 1), web https://alzheimer.ca/en/on or mail: Alzheimer Society of Ontario, 20 Eglinton Ave W. 16th floor, Toronto, ON M4R 1K8.
There will be a celebration of John’s life once the Covid19 situation has stabilized, and international travel restrictions are lifted.
While we are saddened by the loss of a gentle soul, we are comforted that John Guy knows who John Guy is again.
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