Dr. John Richard SWAIN

1941 - 2021

DR. JOHN RICHARD SWAIN Born in St. Albans, England on December 14, 1941. His loving family is sad to announce that Richard passed away suddenly, with his wife by his side on Monday, October 4, 2021, at the age of 79. Richard leaves behind his wife, Sharon; his devoted daughters, Sarah Elizabeth Goodburn and Sherry Lynn King; two grandchildren, Samuel Turner and Haydn Jarrett; and son-in-law, Jan Goodburn. He was predeceased by his father, Dr. Richard Henry Austin Swain and mother, Margaret Swain (England). Dear brother of Professor Paul Swain (wife Frances), and sister, Dame Fiona Woolf (husband Nicholas) (England). Richard was educated at the Edinburgh Academy and obtained his medical degree from the University of London. He immigrated to Canada in 1968, settling in Oshawa, Ontario where he worked for forty-two years as a General Practitioner. He also served as the Medical Director of the Glazier Medical Centre for seven years. He joined the Oshawa General Hospital Medical Staff and became President and also a member of their Board of Governors. Richard was Assistant Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine and member of staff at Sunnybrook Hospital for two years. He was appointed an investigative and eventually an Inquest Coroner for the Province of Ontario for 20 years. He was also Capacity Assessor for the Ministry of the Attorney General. Richard had a strong commitment to community service and was a member and Vice Chairman of Durham Regional District Health Council, a member of Durham Regional Cheshire Homes, a member of The Medico-Legal Society of Toronto, and an associate member of the Ontario Regiment-RCAC. Richard was a Renaissance Man, a gentleman, intelligent, a lover of fine arts, music, opera, gourmet chef, wine connoisseur, multilingual, historian, author, pianist, photographer, and world traveller. Richard, a humble man, will be remembered for his kindness, wisdom, integrity, sense of humour, and loyalty. Richard touched many lives and will be fondly remembered by his family and strong network of close friends and medical colleagues. He was a remarkable and loving husband to Sharon for 45 years. The pride and joy of his life are his daughters, Sarah and Sherry Lynn, who will proudly carry on his legacy. Richard wrote in a final letter to his daughters "Please don't spend too much time mourning my death. Celebrate my life." As Richard requested, there will be no funeral. A Celebration of Life will be planned for Spring 2022 at Parkwood Estate, Oshawa, National Historic Site of Canada. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Parkwood Foundation, Oshawa. Arrangements entrusted to the McEachnie Funeral Home, 28 Old Kingston Road, Ajax, Ontario Canada L1T 2Z7. Online condolences may be left on Richard's profile at www.mceachniefuneral.ca.