It is with much heartache, after a short but valiant fight with cancer, we sadly announce the passing of our beloved John. John was surrounded by his family when he took God’s hand. John was born in Toronto Canada where he, after many long years of working days and going to school at night, graduated with a degree in Engineering from Ryerson University. John began his career at Proctor & Gamble in 1972 in the Oilseed Processing Division. John served with the company until 1980.
From 1980 to 1985 John acted as Director of Marketing for Maple Leaf Monarch, a joint venture company of Unilever and Canadian Pacific. In 1985 John joined Archer Daniels Midland Company and progressively held several management positions before being named as President of ADM Agri Industries Ltd., the Canadian subsidiary in 1992.
In 1997 John became an elected officer of Archer Daniels Midland Company and was promoted to group Vice President of ADM and President of North America Oilseed Processing. One year later John accepted and served as Global President of Archer Daniels Midland Company, a U.S. Fortune 100 Company with operations worldwide.
In 2004, John returned to Canada and founded Kompass Commodities International Inc., an agricultural and food ingredient brokerage business focused on the flow of goods in North America and Europe where John served as President and CEO. John held the position of President and CEO of McNamara and Associates where his over 30 years of experience in agriculture and the food industry were very beneficial to the private and public sectors.
What was to become John’s last adventure was when he was instrumental in the development of the TRT ETGO De Quebec, Inc. investment. John was President and CEO of Twin Rivers Technologies Holding Co. at the time the project was developed. Seeing the plant’s completion and its start-up, it was then John said he was ready for retirement.
John loved playing golf with the boys even more so when they doubled their bets at the 18th hole. He only accepted payment when the wives were present – what a guy. John loved his family and enjoyed special family trips and time together. Traveling was something John and his wife, Lynn, did often and both have seen much and experienced many beautiful memories. Being truly Irish, John, could find a pub anywhere around the world where he truly enjoyed a good pint of Smithwicks. John was an incredibly funny, caring, loving husband, father, grandfather, step-father, step-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. His sense of humor was timeless and his ability to help others was immense. We will all miss his amazing smile and the mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
John leaves behind his best friend and loving wife, Lynn, children, Kerri, Cindi (Steve), Sean (Lisa); mother Reta (step-father Vic deceased), step-mother Ann, father Pat (deceased), brothers Patty (deceased) and Michael (Catherine and family), step-sisters Maureen, Mary (Clive), step-children Marc (Marissa), Jamie (John), grandchildren Brandon, Spencer, Kyle, Liam, Finn, step-grandchildren MacKenzie, Morgan, Mason, Marley, mother of his children Jean Porter Gagnon, nieces Coleen, Lori, Lanna, family Wilf and Eileen Walsh of Manchester England, and our Derry family of Northern Ireland. We also want to thank our dear friends Regan and Cathy, John and Moreen, Walt and Debbie, Mike and Heidi and so many more friends for all the love and support. Your friendship and kindness has made this unbearable time more bearable. Many thanks to Dr. Dimasco and staff of Jacksonville, Florida, doctors Aboo, Splinter, Coulombe and staff for all you have done for John and his family.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to our nephew, Johnathan’s continuous care: C/O M. Bennett, 1750 Ada Court, Pickering, Ontario, L1V 2Z1 or to The Lustgarten Foundation, 1111 Stewart Avenue, Bethpage, NY 11714.
Friends are invited to visit at the Central Chapel of Hulse Playfair, McGarry Funeral Home, 315 McLeod St. (at O’Connor) on Thursday August 2nd from 2 to 4pm and 7 to 9pm. Funeral Service in the Chapel on Friday August 3rd at 11:30 am followed by a reception at the family home.
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