Kerr, John Jeffrey
John was born in Toronto on the 3rd of March, 1944, a son of the late Dr. W. K. Kerr and Helen M. Brock Kerr. He died peacefully with family by his side on the 17th of August, 2024, in Owen Sound, at the age of 80.
John is survived by his wife of 52 years, Kathy Kerr (nèe Smith) of Meaford.
He was the patient, kind and witty father of Ian and Norah Kerr, both of Toronto. John will be remembered fondly by his younger siblings Ken, Ann and Frank, several nieces and nephews, a grand-niece, and his brother-in-law Peter Smith.
He was a graduate of Upper Canada College, Western University and the University of Toronto. While at Western he was involved with the 1st Hussars in London, and later with the 48th Highlanders in Toronto as Captain (qualified Major) in the Militia. He knew infantry and armor tactics. He was an excellent shot and won the Turner prize one year. In Toronto, John taught English and Latin at Royal St George’s School for over thirty years. He was also a long time President of the Annex Ratepayers Association. He continued teaching when he moved to Meaford 24 years ago. He branched out and taught whatever was needed in various schools, except music.
John replaced Sam Luckhardt as the Chair of the Meaford Hall and Museum Restoration Board. He oversaw all the major changes made to both buildings. He then went on in 2010 to organize an art exhibition honouring Fred Haines in 2010 and a second exhibition honouring Chuck Finlay in 2013. Both local painters of note. John was also the chair of the Museum Board at this time.
In Meaford, John and Kathy built a new house on the family cottage grounds. He enjoyed sailing, fishing, music and family. John took up woodworking and produced dining room tables from our birch, and trims and baseboards. He especially liked walking our various dogs in Memorial Park and the Dog Park at the corner of Aiken and Grant.
John’s life will be celebrated in The Galleries at the Meaford Hall, a building that he helped design during the restoration and renovations, the ‘Cèlidh’ will take place on Saturday, September 28, 2024 from 1 until 4 p.m., with tributes shared at 2 o’clock.
As your expression of sympathy, and in lieu of flowers please (Kathy is allergic), donations to the Meaford Hospital Foundation, Owen Sound Hospital Foundation, the Meaford Museum or a charity of your choice would be appreciated and may be made through the Ferguson Funeral Home, 48 Boucher St. E., Meaford, ON N4L 1B9 to whom arrangements have been entrusted. www.fergusonfuneralhomes.ca
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Make a donation in memory of John Jeffrey Kerr
Donations: Meaford Hospital Foundation, Owen Sound Hospital Foundation, the Meaford Museum or a charity of your choiceDonate securely through Ferguson Funeral Home
Sunday, August 18, 2024
Marc and I want to send our sincere condolences to Kathy, Ian and Norah at this sad time. And to John’s siblings too.
With much love
Saturday, August 24, 2024
My condolences. Mr. Kerr was a lively and inspiring teacher — I remember Chaucer and Shakespeare coming alive in his classroom. He taught me how to write an essay.
Sunday, August 18, 2024
When me and my family moved to Meaford from BC, John and Kathy became our neighbours for 10 years. They have remained our forever friends. Some of my fondest memories are when John would take one of the kids out for a sail. Or he would meander down to join us at the bonfire. John was always there for us through our good times and challenging ones too! John you will be remembered always and truly missed.
Michelle Deschênes
Sunday, August 18, 2024
I will miss John very much. He was a lovely neighbour – always thoughtful, fun and generous. I will miss his quirkiness, his passion for creating things (particularly woodworking) and his kindness. John had quite a sense of humour to balance his intellect and broad interests. We were more with him, and are less without him.
Monday, August 19, 2024
It is with a sad heart too have to do this post. John will be missed by everyone who knew or met this man. He is and was the most gentle, kind, humble, wise, respected man that we all should strive to be. I know for sure the gates of heaven have swung open wide for John and he will be such a great asset to his Heavenly Father and it’s people.
Johns love for dogs and the people at the dog park will be one of the most missed parts of my day.
You will not be forgotten John !!! You have set goals that we all should try to achieve . The world would be much better place if everyone could be as gentle a soul as you.
All my respect John
Even though I might have drove you a little crazy
Your friend
Jerry Barber , Aspen ,Chloe And all the dogs in the PARK.
Monday, August 19, 2024
So sorry to hear. I always enjoyed talking to John. My thoughts and prayers are with you
Monday, August 19, 2024
We are very sorry for your loss, Kathy. John was a good friend and good neighbour to many on Lakeside Drive.
Phil Deschenes & Family
Oro-Medonte
Monday, August 19, 2024
So very sorry to hear this sad news. John, who will always be Mr. Kerr to me, was one of the best teachers I ever had. He encouraged us to think critically, to not pontificate or prevaricate, and to write clearly and crisply. I hear his distinctive voice to this day when I catch myself ponderously over-writing something and needing to rework it. Thinking fondly of a good man and sending my condolences to the Kerr family.
Monday, August 19, 2024
Kathy, my deepest sympathy to you in the loss of your dear husband. You and your family will have wonderful memories to help comfort you in the days ahead, Thoughts and prayers are with you.
Friday, August 23, 2024
Kathy, I am so sorry. John was such a sweet man who shared his knowledge and time so gracefully. He was a major contributor and sat on the Board of Georgian Bay Arts and Music Festival. He also spent many hours using his technical and computer skills there as well as for Georgian Bay Arts and Crafts Association (GBAC) and Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts(BMFA).
We spent many working hours together with all these groups and I have always held great respect and considered him a wonderful friend.
Monday, August 19, 2024
My condolences Kathy. John was the ultimate gentleman and a kind soul. His stories and wit during our afternoon social hour each day at the dog park will be greatly missed by all. Heaven has gained an Angel but the friends you left behind will miss you greatly. Your presence will remain with us all in our wonderful memories of you.
Monday, August 19, 2024
It is with much sadness to hear of John’s passing. He was so helpful to me when learning to use wood working tools!
Our condolences to Kathy and family.
Lynda Stephens & Gary Chick
Monday, August 19, 2024
Kathy, so sorry for your loss, a loss for all of us …so very grateful that John was at the dog park with his sense of humour very much in form and we all got to spend that time with him. Will be remembering him with fondness.
Monday, August 19, 2024
So sorry to learn about the passing of Mr Kerr. Fondly remembered as JJ. So knowledgeable as an English teacher who taught many of us from two different perspectives. He taught me how to think critically.I still have books from the two English courses The Classical Literary criticism of Horace and Longuinus and also an anthology of major authors he called “the brick”. John signed my copy of it on his retirement from RSGC. So glad to read that he had such a happy fulfilling life in retirement with family after a successful career mentoring so many.
Monday, August 19, 2024
Kathy and family. Sincere condolences on the loss of John. Cherish the fond memories you have made over the years with family and friends. You are in our prayers.
Ellie and Merv Smith
Monday, August 19, 2024
I was a student of Mr Kerr’s at St George’s. He taught with great kindness, I have fond memories of my time with him. As the other students have said he was a incredible teacher. As a swim coach he learned from the swimmers, as we knew more technical details than him. As a person he taught us kindness, hard work and to have fun now and then. I am very sorry for your loss. I will attempt to make his ‘Cèlidh’.
Tuesday, August 20, 2024
My sincere condolences to you Kathy and family. Remembering so many great times at the Kerr cottage in Georgian Bay. He was a fascinating teacher, inspiring so many students. Hope to attend his Cèlidh.
Tuesday, August 20, 2024
Kathy and family.
My sincere condolences on John’s passing.
John was a mainstay for working on the door at our Goldenaires concert always welcoming concert audiences with a smile and warm welcome. Quite often when John spotted me wandering the beach front cottages, he would come say hello.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you, at this time.
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
I had Mr Kerr as a teacher at RSGC many years ago. He was certainly a patient and funny teacher. A great calming person during tumultuous times growing up!
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Mr. Kerr was my English teacher for Grade 10 and 11 and what a teacher and influence he was. He was the first teacher who not only made me believe I could produce something worthwhile but also the one that held me to account. And my god, he was funny. It is no accident that I am a teacher now.
Thanks for believing in me, sir.
You made all the difference.
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Very sorry to hear this news! As a former student of John’s I have alway held his kindness and integrity in my heart. I am now a teacher and can honestly say that he shaped my practice through his approach to teaching. I struggled with dyslexia, so English was one of my greatest challenges, especially long novels and reading out Shakespeare aloud! John was amazing how he gently pushed me to carry on in a kind and caring manor and always had time to practice and help with my preparations…but he never let me off the hook! Rest in peace John and all the best to your family! Thank you for all of your help over the years!
Peter Andras
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
I too am a graduate of John Kerr’s English in grade 13 of 1978. I remember fondly being open up to the following great books and English knowledge in those nine months – Great Expectations, Gulliver’s Travels, French Lieutenant’s Woman, Hamlet, King Lear and then modern poetry (Lawrence Ferlingetti, Irving Layton). The class was more full than my first year English class at Western and I cannot commend him more for preparing me for the future university challenge. My thoughts to his family, but he will be someone that I will never forget! My last memory, if I may, is his toast at Alumni dinners – To the Queen!
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
My sincere condolences to the family.
John taught me at St. Georges College.
He was my form teacher, swim coach, ski coach and english teacher…and he was a beauty. He pushed hard, didn’t countenance bullshit, and he cared. He taught me (after graduation….not to worry) that chocolate ice cream and whiskey are an awesome combination.
I talk about him fondly often. Like so many other Georgians, he influenced the person I became.
He will be missed.
(As I know he would have required, I asked a colleague to edit this for grammer and spelling).
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
I was John’s Platoon Sergeant in 1969 with the 48th Highlanders when our platoon won the Bayonet trophy in CFB Petawawa as the best Infantry Platoon in Central Militia Area (Ontario). I had not seen John in many years but I will always remember him as a sharp, personable and quick thinker. I often thought of him after he left the unit and wished he had stayed on to serve more years with us. My sincere condolences to his family.
Brigadier General Greg Young (ret)
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Great man. The glass windows that met his blistering fast brush attention getter are the only ones relieved at his passing. As a writer I have Jonny Kerr to help me on my chosen path We will not see his like again. Safe journey.
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
John was a highly influential early teacher of mine, not much older than his students when he started his Royal St. George’s College career the year after I began there. Like many others, I took to heart his insights on writing well, and he encouraged my artistic pursuits despite being the subject of many cartoons in a satirical school newspaper. He was a friend and I regret being unable to attend next month’s tribute. Sincere condolences to everyone who knew and loved him.
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Mr. Kerr was my English teacher and ski coach in the mid 90s. I remember writing a ridiculous story where I made fun of another English teacher, changing his name by one letter (to protect the innocent). I had no idea what he would say about it, but it came back with an A and the main comment was “he he he”. I always appreciated how Mr. Kerr would treat us not as children but autonomous young men who were responsible for making their own choices, which was why he never made use of late penalties…you could hand in all of your assignments on the last day of school and he would happily grade them. I hope I can bring even a small part of Mr. Kerr’s patience, kindness and sincerity to my work as a teacher. I will remember him fondly.
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
I’m so glad I happened to see this. I would like to pass on my condolences to his family.
“Mr Kerr” as I knew him, had a great influence on my life. I’ll never forget my introduction to Hemingway via “the short happy life…” which he read to the class. I was also the first recipient of the chess prize that he initiated that same year.
He was an inspiration to me…one of those very few teachers that I will be forever grateful for.
Thank you Mr Kerr!
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Dear Kathy – have thought of you and John often since our days on Walmer Road. Such a lovely man he was.
I send my condolences to you.
Susan Perren
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Condolences to our favorite neighbor John. He is our guardian angel, he and Kathy are the reason why we kept our cottage at Meaford. We don’t know how we will survive our cottage without John. He has cared and looked after us for a these years. We are so sad. We will miss him always. We send our love to Kathy and his families. ♥️ Karen
Thursday, August 22, 2024
Our most sincere and warm condolences to Kathy and John’s family. John will always be remembered over here in Norway, first of all by the family of his grandmother, Ellen Johanne Krogvig Kerr, born at Moelv, Ringsaker in Norway, the second eldest of six children. I, who write this, am the daughter of Ellen’s youngest brother, Torolf, and thus the cousin of John’s father William Kerr. At the age of 83, I am closer to John’s generation, though. We had dreams of meeting here in Norway again. Memories and family bonds are strong.
Heartfelt greetings from Inger and her daughters Ragnhild and Anne Kirsti and their families,
Thursday, August 22, 2024
John was the gentlest of souls, a gentleman to the core of his being and a pleasure to be in his company. He will be missed terribly by all his “park people” friends.
“John, your memory will be a blessing to all of us that knew you!”
Kathy, our deepest condolences to you and your family.
Shellie and Al Smith
Thursday, August 22, 2024
My condolences to the Kerr family. John was an exceptional teacher who did his best to get his students to think and write critically and to appreciate the literature and wit he loved. I started at St. George’s the same year he did and had him as a teacher for almost seven years. He and we always got a great kick from his reciting of the Jabberwocky. In addition to teaching literature, he was an excellent teacher of ancient history, although my class failed to use the Kerr-approved pronunciation of the Greek leader Pisistratus. As yearbook advisor he helped me finish editing the book – at his cottage after school ended. He took our class one year to see King Lear at Stratford. It was a performance for students and they were noisy – not John’s class of course. Near the end of the play the actor playing Lear warned the audience to quiet down and then had enough and walked off stage. John quickly noted to us that the play’s next line was “Is this the promised end?”
Thursday, August 22, 2024
I echo Bob and Terry’s reminiscences. We had Mr. Kerr in Grade 8 for History and English in one of those make-shift classrooms under the foundations of St. Alban’s. And several other classes culminating in Grade 13 English, where we read “The Lord of the Rings” in the Spring (after we had gotten through British Lit.). Mr. Kerr was not above experimenting in his methodologies. One Monday morning I turned in a very short poem I had written for the weekend assignment, and was surprised to see on Tuesday that Mr. Kerr had copied it onto the blackboard with the admonition, “do not erase!” Twenty-seven years later, attending my father’s funeral where I read a poetic eulogy, Mr. Kerr copied out that long ago poem and gave it to me at a quiet moment. My promise as a poet (which I continue to pursue) which he noticed and nurtured in his understated way is something I will always treasure.
Friday, August 23, 2024
Condolences to the Kerr family. I had the privilege of learning both English and Latin from Mr. Kerr at SGC and his patience and empathy trying to teach me Latin was always appreciated. I will miss his sense of humour and the insights he always had about literature and languages. I most appreciated his witty comments when we met up at the CNE Warrior’s day parade when I was performing with the 48th Highlanders military band. He will be missed greatly.
Friday, August 23, 2024
I was taught by Mr. Kerr for two Grade 13 English courses at SGC: the first a survey of British literature, and the second an introduction to literary criticism. These courses introduced me to English as a discipline and to its breadth and sweep, and they have remained for me touchstones of excellence in teaching. Since I have gone on to teach English myself, Mr. Kerr and his courses have never been forgotten. My condolences to his family and friends.
Friday, August 23, 2024
During my ten years as a student at St. George’s, Mr. Kerr was a constant. He was the horizon that kept us steady both at school and in the years after graduation. His presence will live on for years to come.
Saturday, August 24, 2024
Kathy: We are so very sorry to hear of John’s passing. It was just a short while ago that we had a conversation at the mailbox. He was always very interesting to talk to. The town has lost a very special citizen in John.
Sunday, August 25, 2024
John was his own person and won’t be duplicated again. Frank and I borrowed some beer at a very young age from John’s weekend stash, after the tongue lashing we never went there again. A great fisherman, story teller extraordinaire. People like John made the bay special. My dad who was a good fisherman asked him guidance. Lastly his laugh, I can hear it now ❤️. To his family I am sorry and feel your sorrow. Feel thankful he was your husband, your dad you were lucky. I feel lucky to have shared dinner drinks and laughed with him. May God bless and comfort you all.
Tuesday, August 27, 2024
John and I started at St Georges in the same year, he as a teacher and I in Grade 5, unfortunately never had him as one of my teachers in my four years there. Our family being good friends with the Kerr’s spent many weekends at their cottage on The Bay and I will never forget going out fishing with John in the little cedar boat with the old Johnson on the back, where he proceeded to pull in a huge pike that Dr. Kerr cooked up on the BBQ for breakfast. Not only was he a great teacher and fisherman, but also a car guy as well, one evening around Christmas are family was at the Kerr household and John and I took each others cars for a spin around Rosedale, and then spent the evening critiquing the vehicles, he had a lovely Alpha Romeo sedan and I had our family’s Audi 100, the first Audi imported into North America. I always enjoyed talking to John on the rare occasions we would see each other in later years. My condolences to his family and I know John is up there with fishing rod in hand pulling in the big one.
Tuesday, September 3, 2024
Dear Kathy, Nora and Ian:
We were so sorry to get the news about John. He was a kind and gentle man – always ready to help and one we admired greatly. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Thursday, September 12, 2024
I’m sorry to be so late to the party. I did not know of John’s passing. I was a student of John’s in a few classes during my student days at RSGC. I attribute John’s teaching to the moment when it suddenly occurred to me that I loved learning. It still seems a bit odd that it was while I was studying for my Gr 13 English Lit Christmas exam. John had been teaching a unit on the Metaphysical Poets. I was re-reading a poem by John Donne. I suddenly looked up and thought, “Oh man! I love this!” After undergraduate studies I became a teacher, and, like John, I taught for over 30 years. That spark that happened in John’s class inspired me through it all. More recently I was able to share this story with John. I’m so glad I did.
Friday, September 27, 2024
Kathy
Don and I are so sorry to hear of John’s passing. What a loss to our community. I smiled recalling you both, constructing my gazebo deck- (I helped) and time spent enjoying dinner together . He was a wonderfully kind gentleman .
Catherine Robertson