John Dale STOHN

1922 - 2021

JOHN DALE STOHN Died peacefully on March 4, 2021 in Sunnybrook Veterans Centre (Toronto) at the age of 98. Son of the late Carl Stohn Sr. and Madelaine Dale. Brother of the late Carl Stohn Jr. He is survived by his wife Suzanne ('Suzie'), son Stephen (and Linda Schuyler), daughter Dale (and Bob Shaw), grandson Max, granddaughter Jalyn (and Daniel Sorg), and great-grandchildren Jacob, Oliver, Thomas and Bianca Sorg. Born in Boston in 1922, John grew up in Montreal and Granby, Quebec, working in the family business manufacturing and distributing window blinds, curtains and draperies. He attended McGill University (where he met Suzie) and was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity - and indeed the family business donated furnishings for the Phi Delta Theta fraternity house in Montreal, and later the one in Toronto. John enlisted in the Canadian army in 1942. He was stationed initially in the U.K. as part of the Canadian Army Reinforcement Unit and as part of the 15th Field Regiment in the 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division, until October of 1943 when as a Lieutenant he fought in the Italian campaign in the 11th Army Field Regiment. Near the end of the Italian campaign, the Canadian forces were moved through France to the Netherlands and on to Germany, where John fought until VE-Day. At that time he volunteered for the Pacific war, and was initially sent to Canada where he was granted a thirty-day leave. The thirtieth day of his leave fell on August 15th, coincidentally his birthday, but more importantly VJ-Day, so he never made it to the Pacific! Following the war, he and Suzie were married in October of 1946, and lived briefly in Shreveport, Louisiana, then Denver, Colorado (where Stephen was born) before they moved permanently to Toronto in 1949. For most of his life until retirement John acted as Director of Personnel at Clarkson Gordon (now Ernst & Young), but throughout had a successful second career as an artist, creating spatial constructions in acrylic, with sell-out shows in a number of cities including three at Roberts Gallery in Toronto and one at Gilman Gallery in Chicago. He always loved playing golf, particularly at The Toronto Hunt. Indeed every year, from the ages of 76 through 96, he succeeded in hitting his age! He and Suzie always treasured the many summers they spent at Pointe-au-Baril, and his ashes will rest in a niche at Pointe-au-Baril, with a panoramic view of Georgian Bay, the tall pines, glorious sunsets and sunrises. A celebration of life is intended after the pandemic restrictions are lifted. In lieu of flowers or gifts he asked that his friends choose their favourite tipple and raise a glass to the good old times. Donations would be gratefully accepted for The Sunnybrook Foundation at https://donate.sunnybrook.ca/donation-landing.