GODFREY, John - On June 16, 2018, John Valentine Hardie Godfrey died peacefully in his bed in the Scarborough townhouse he called home for over 50 years.
He was 87 years old. John spent the last three years of his life without his deceased wife Robin, whom he deeply loved and sorely missed.
A large picture of Robin "sat" in the chair across from him in the living room until the last weeks of his life, when John took to his bed.
By his example, John taught his sons Ian and Stuart how to be fathers. He was loving, engaged, responsible and strict (he was not about to tolerate long, unruly hair).
He continued in the same vein with his grandchildren: Aaron, Ross, Misiu, Christopher and Katie (but with more smiles and hugs and a newfound tolerance for long, unruly hair).
In addition to his sons and grandchildren he leaves behind his much loved "snappy gals": his daughters-in-law Barbara and Sandi. John was born in Victoria, BC, the son of a naval Commodore, Valentine Godfrey OBE and his wife Margaret Godfrey (née Hardie). His only sibling, Peggy Powell, died in Vancouver in late 2014, leaving behind John's nieces Kim and Valerie.
In addition to his human descendants, John is survived by his granddogs Soda and Stanley. They are puzzled by his absence and wonder why he is no longer tossing them the battered beaver.
Our father was a kind, loving and gentle man. We will miss him. For those who wish to mark John's passing in some way, the family asks that donations be made to his favourite charity - the Toronto Star's Christmas Wish Fund.
A celebration of John's life will be held on July 4, 2018 beginning at 1:00 p.m. in the Conservatory of McLean House, part of the Estates of Sunnybrook on the campus of the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.
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