John Hahn Riddell

Most sincere condolences to John's family members and close friends. John was a brilliant, compassionate and creative person, very concerned with and involved in his community. He will be missed by so many.

My sincere condolence and sympathy to John's family and friends. I am greatly saddened to hear of his passing. I first met John in 1956 in grade 9 at London Central Collegiate. As he lived but a stone's throw from the school a fair amount of time was spent by the gang at his house. I have many fond memories of John. He was an affable fellow and quite hospitable and generous. His inclinations tended towards a deep concern for those who were in one way or another disadvantaged or challenged: people with whom he was able to connect, empathize and help. Having set upon goals which took me away from London after completing high school, I lost personal touch with him but did keep abreast of John through our mutual friend Gerry Hughes and learned of John's accomplishments and his consideration for others. Fortunately we did chat from time to time during the last ten years. John was the philosopher among us. A deep and at times conflicted thinker. But these aspects of his personality, of his essence, and how he related to his many friends, were indeed his strengths: strengths which enabled us to cope with and defeat our own demons. He was ever ready to reach out to give a helping hand. We love you John. You were and always will be our guiding beacon. God bless you. We are among the many who will miss you. Your friend always. Andrew.

I wish to offer my sincere condolences and sympathies to John's family and close friends it was my good fortune to have met John on our first day of grade nine at Central Collegiate although we weren't in touch over the years I often thought of him and how he was doing, I will always remember him as a kind, gentle and caring person, and know he will be missed with love by all of us who had the good fortune to have had him as a friend or relative. May God bless and keep you John, sincerely, your old friend Richard Klojgaard

John was a very talented man with a social conscience, serious artistic talent, philosophical concerns and a wonderful sense of humor. The world is a poorer place without him. Good wishes to his family and friends.

I knew John from the literary community I was involved with and was first introduced to his work by bp Nichol. John was a literary innovator in as many forms as he touched... his story on a deck of cards that when shuffled would give you another story, his performance work in many of our Pataphysical events offering both insight and humour... who could not remember his performance proving that light bulbs were grown and not manufactured including documentation of fields with emerging bulbs. I have great respect for John's work and just last evening not knowing of his passing I was looking at photos of him in our many events and smiling at the memories. His passing is a loss for avant-garde writing always done with wit and intellect. Please accept my most sincere condolences for a one-of-a-kind guy. I spent an afternoon with John last fall when he contacted me and wanted to connect... it was full of laughs and the straight forwardness I have always known him for. Wherever you are, John, I know you'll innovate to make it your own place... Godspeed, my friend!!

My deepest condolences. John's writing (I was honoured to be able to publish and edit his work) was astonishing and inspired generations of writers and poets. Thank you John for the inspiration, the conversation, the friendship ... and so much more.

I want to offer my deepest condolences to John's family. John was my neighbor and dear friend for the past 10yrs. He was always there for me whether it was to help change a light fixture or to listen to my dilemmas and offer wise and comforting words of encouragement. That was just the wonderful kind of guy he was. John, I consider myself lucky to have been blessed with your friendship and I will miss you very much. Sending you lots of love, wherever you are.