JOHN BRAINERD SANDUSKY

1940 - 2023

JOHN BRAINERD SANDUSKY

God welcomed our dearest John into His presence on August 16, 2023. He died peacefully in his sleep, in the early morning hours at Belmont House in Toronto. John's life embodied Micah 6 verse 8: act justly, love kindness, and walk humbly with God.

John was born on May 29, 1940 in Brampton, Ontario. He was raised on a turkey farm in Pefferlaw along with his nine brothers and sisters. John developed a strong work ethic growing up in the country and landed his first paid job in his early teens as a neighbour's farmhand. He met the love of his life, Margaret Ann Logan, when he was eight years old, at their two-room schoolhouse. When he was 19, he moved to 'the big city' to attend the University of Toronto. He and Margaret started dating that same year and were married on November 26, 1966.

John received his Chartered Accountant designation in 1966 and founded Sandbury Homes in 1975 along with May LeBlanc, Hugh Heron, and his brother Paul. Sandbury built more than 7,500 homes in Ontario over three decades. In 1984, John was named president of the Canadian Home Builders' Association and was later inducted into its Hall of Fame.

John was first and foremost a family man. He and his beloved Margaret raised two active children in Agincourt and then North Toronto. Despite a demanding career that he truly loved, he was always home for dinner. Outside of family and work, John had a number of passions. Every weekday morning at six for more than 30 years, he worked out at the Fitness Institute. He was a lifelong Blue Jays fan and an original season ticket subscriber. He loved to read historical biographies, listen to country and gospel music, was an avid tennis player, and cut grass and split wood at 'the farm' on weekends. He loved sharing a good meal - with a small group of friends at home or at a large family gathering in the country.

John had a deep love for his siblings. He made a point of nurturing those bonds until the very end. Annual family reunions were very special times for him. John developed and sustained deep relationships with a broad group of people; friends from childhood and early Toronto days, neighbours everywhere he lived, his extended business network, workout buddies, church community, his children's closest friends, fellow tennis enthusiasts, and the Munshaw and Wulff families. He had a gift for making people feel special.

John was generous with his time and resources. He served on many nonprofit boards, loved to mentor young people, was a Big Brother in his 50s, and together with Margaret, supported numerous impactful organizations, in particular Ontario Pioneer Camp where Margaret was a nurse in 1964 and their children and grandchildren were campers and counselors, and Little Trinity Church where they have been active members since 1966. John will be remembered as a loving and loyal friend, a good listener, and a gracious, genuine man of faith.

John will be deeply missed by Margaret, whom he adored for more than 56 years, his cherished children, Caroline (Glen) and Paul (Helena) and treasured grandchildren, Eric, Ben, Josh and Megan. John was predeceased by his mother Edna and father Adolf, brother Walter (Edith), sister Mary, and brother Phil (Brenda). He will be fondly remembered by siblings, Ruth (Stan, Don), Gwen (Glen), Jim (Sue), Paul (Cathy), Elizabeth (Peter), and Peter (Mary) and by Margaret's brother, Brian (Rose) and sister, Gail (Mike) as well as his great many nieces and nephews.

Dad, the circle will be unbroken.

A memorial will be held at Little Trinity Anglican Church in Toronto on Saturday, September 16 at 2:00 p.m. with a reception to immediately follow the service. In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to Ontario Pioneer Camp or Parkinson Canada in his honour.