John Weir MacKay
March 20, 2015
October 27, 1949 – March 20, 2015 – It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of John MacKay in his 66th year. Much loved husband of Christine MacKay (Finkbeiner), and devoted father to Kyle, and Neil, and daughter-in-law Amanda. He will be deeply missed by his sister Barbara, and her husband Robert Weseloh; Paul Finkbeiner, and his wife Susan; Maureen Smith and her husband Peter; Michael Finkbeiner, and his wife Leslee. He will also be missed by his nephews Dalton, and Jackson Finkbeiner, Jacob (Melanie) Smith, and his niece Laura Smith. Born in Goderich, Ontario, John was raised in Auburn where he met a great group of kids who would become lifelong friends. These old friends are your best friends because they know who you are now and where you had been. John had a very fulfilling career as a Medical Laboratory Technologist; he worked at Victoria Hospital in various departments for over 35 years where he was a mentor and a leader. John took great pride in teaching students and others. He truly believed that it was better to give than to receive. He was equally passionate about his personal life. He would spend hours every week in his woodlot near Exeter, Ontario, a little patch of trees that he worked tirelessly to develop into a piece of heaven, and second home for himself, his family, and his friends. John would spend every Friday at the woodlot where he and George McDonald would play crib and drink scotch. However, they would pretend that they had been working hard at chopping trees and cutting wood. John ate and breathed music: he was an award winning piper and a talented musician. He loved performing and did so on his own, with his son Neil, and with renowned pianist, and friend Angus Sinclair in venues both in Canada, and Scotland. He learned to play several instruments over the years and they are all stored in his music room. He proclaimed to be an expert at playing them all, then again John pretended to be an expert at a lot of things. One of his greatest gifts was his ability to laugh at himself. John had an amazing sense of humour and was extremely humble. He was one of the nicest people that you will ever meet and will be dearly, dearly missed. The family wishes to extend much thanks to Peter Ainsworth, Pat Potter, and the Medical/Nursing staff at the LHSC. John has been cremated. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 4th, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at METROPOLITAN UNITED CHURCH, London, at the corner of Wellington and Dufferin. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a donation in memory of John are asked to consider the Metropolitan United Church re: “The Paint The Slate Project” or charity of your choice.
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(Donated to Metropolitan United Church)
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(Donated to South Muskoka Memorial Hospital Foundation)
(Donated to Grand Lodge of Canada)
(Donated to South Huron Hospital Foundation)
(Donated to Canadian Cancer Society)
(Donated to Metropolitan United Church)
(Donated to Metropolitan United Church)
Christine, It broke my heart to hear about the loss of your John. I hope you can reach out to your friends and family for love and support. Please call whenever you need to talk.
My whole hearted condolences to you. John was a kind and thoughtful person and a great friend to all he knew. He always made you feel welcome. He will be missed.
So very sorry to hear the sad news. Please accept our sincere condolences. Our thoughts go with you and your family. Treasure the memories.
I will really miss John. He gave so much to St. George's Lodge No. 42. He will sorely be missed. His love for the bagpipes that he shared so often over the years, his stories, his poems. He was such a generous, considerate and dedicated man. My condolences to the family.
To Chris, Kyle, Neil and Family, we wish to extend our sincere sympathy. John was a wonderful man who has provided wonderful memories to all those his life touched. We were so fortunate that the Masonic Fraternity brought so many of us together, whose paths would not likely have crossed otherwise. We had many enjoyable times together. John was never one to sit back and let others carry the load as he loved participating in so many things. Our 92 Masters' Group has lost another wonderful member, but like those who have preceded John, they will not be forgotten. Chris, please continue to be a part of us when we get together and Kyle & Neil, try to follow in your father's footsteps.
Chris, I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you and your family. Liisa
To John's family and also to his sister, Barbara and her family--I extend my sincere condolences to all of you, as you join together, to remember Johnnie. His father taught was my teacher, when I went to USS#5 hullet. My older brother rob, was in the same grade as john during his time there, also. the bagpipe tune, has ended--but the melody lingers.
Christine, I was so sorry to learn of your loss. With sympathy to you and your family at this very difficult time... Judy
Hi Barb and Bob. So sorry to hear the news Remember the good times, and cherish the memories..
To Chris and her family I am so sorry for your tremendous loss that you must feel. I will treasure the time I got to spend with John not just at work in the Molecular DNA lab but also outside of work, spending an afternoon in his music room with our Spanish student (John in is cut-off Ramones t-shirt-which I thought was so cool!) and what better way to spend some time with a Scottish man than golfing (John's motto was Cindy you don't have to keep score, it's about enjoying the game, the beauty of the day and the golf course. John was a wise, passionate and spiritual man. he taught me to stop and smell the roses and to stop and read the historical road signs! John- I finally did on one of my last family visits to Niagara, we stopped and read the signs at Brock Monument, Queenston Heights about the War of 1812! John gave his time, his heart and his soul to those that had the pleasure of knowing him and his spirit will be with me always!
John will be greatly missed. His positive attitude and wonderful smile always made my day. I enjoyed his presence at our annual Lab Luncheons at The Mandarin. I am so saddened by your loss Chris. You and your family are in my prayers. Dale
Christine: Words can't express the sadness on hearing of John's passing. Our sincere sympathy to you and your family. He was a good friend and a great person to all who had the pleasure of knowing him. Russ and Beth
I was very saddened when I heard the news. There are so many fond memories of John when I attended USS#5 School where we met and spent six or seven years before he moved away... We met at the Auburn birthday celebrations every twenty five years since then. He always made a point of speaking to me and I always left those conversations with a wonderful memory of growing up in Auburn. Even though we made choices in life that we left Auburn, I will never forget those innocent days. God speed John.
One of many poems John shared with me while walking his "little girl" Feebie From John's heart for us to remember Through this toilsome world alas! Once and only once I pass; If a kindness I may show, If a good deed I may do For a suffering fellow man Let me do it while I can No delay, for it is plain I shall not pass this way again. John was my dog-walking friend and kind, thoughtful neighbour. I'll truly miss my friend.
John was my mentor when I joined the staff in the Molecular Genetics Lab at Victoria Hospital. John and I quickly had a bond closer than colleagues. I grew to love John's sense of humour and we shared our love of music and family. John had an amazing memory for poetry and I shared with him one day a poem that my husband had memorized from high school. As short as it was, John and I could never quite commit it to memory and many days one of us would start reciting it and end up on google to complete it. So much depends on a red wheel barrow glazed in rain water beside the white chickens Rest in peace my friend Shell
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To Chris, Kyle, Neil, Barb and family you have our deepest heartfelt sympathy.We will all miss the piper, the ideas person, the superb cribbage player ,but most of all John's friendship and thoughtfulness .
~ Jo Anne and George McDonald