John Alexander
September 5, 1935 – November 29, 2024
John David Alexander, 89, of Port Perry, Ontario passed away peacefully surrounded by family on November 29, 2024, after being diagnosed with cancer earlier this year.
John is survived by his wife Jeanne (Rowan), sons Christopher and David, daughters-in-law Carol and Krista, grandchildren Dylan, Sadie, and Brody, step-grandchildren Austin (Christina) and Dylan, sister-in-law Vicki, and sisters Linda and Karen.
John was born on September 5, 1935, to David and Gladys Alexander in Toronto. He grew up in north Toronto, attended Northern Collegiate High School, and graduated from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute in 1957 with a degree in Business Administration.
John worked in the life insurance industry for National Life Assurance Company for over 30 years and later worked with Revenue Canada and H&R Block.
Jeanne and John married on October 3, 1959, in Toronto and lived for over 30 years on Deerfield Road in Scarborough. Earlier this year, they celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary, with John fondly referring to Jeanne as his favorite “treat.”
John’s love of Barbershop singing spanned over 60 years. He sang with the Scarborough Dukes of Harmony, winning two International Gold Medals, and later with the Suburbanaires. He was also a founding member of Harmony Ranch, which remains an integral part of his family’s life.
A gifted storyteller, John enjoyed sharing tales of his sons’ childhoods and other life experiences. He also had a passion for cooking and pickling, earning a first-place award for his dill pickles at the Port Perry Fair.
Later in life, John provided tax preparation services for friends and family, working meticulously with worksheets and pencils instead of computers.
After moving to Port Perry over 20 years ago, John and Jeanne formed many cherished friendships through St. Andrews Chalmers Church and their neighborhoods. He was a dedicated volunteer at the church, serving on the Board of Directors and contributing to fundraising and financial management.
Visitation will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, December 5, 2024, at St. Andrews Chalmers Church, 40B Toronto Street South, Uxbridge, followed by a service at 12:00 noon. A reception will follow in the church hall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Oak Ridges Hospice, Port Perry, where John spent his final days.
