John Albert HODGSON

HODGSON, John Albert Peacefully in his sleep on September 17, 2005 in his 97th year. Survived by his beloved wife of 66 years, Eileen Louise (nee Bickford), three sons, Ronald (wife Jocelyne) of Ottawa, Christopher (wife Margaret) of White Rock and Neil (wife Brenda) of Ajax, 9 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Born and raised in Yorkshire, England he was a bright student and an avid sportsman. After leaving school he worked as a municipal clerk until being called-up to serve in WW2. Following the war he became a school teacher and emigrated with his family to Canada in 1951 where he eventually retired in 1973 as head of the English Department at A.N. Myer School in Niagara Falls. John was an alumni of McMaster University (B.A. 1958) and of Queens University (Hon B.A. 1964). He was a humanist with a strong social conscience, always cheerful, kind and gentle, with an original turn of phrase and a marvelous sense of humour. He will be forever lovingly remembered by his family, friends and former students. A memorial gathering will be held at the Central Chapel of Hulse, Playfair and McGarry 315 McLeod Street, Ottawa, at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 24, reception to follow. A donation to the Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre Foundation is requested in lieu of flowers. To laugh often and much, to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition, this is to have succeeded - Emerson. Published in the Ottawa Citizen on 9/20/2005