John Malcolm WALKER

1937 - 2021

JOHN MALCOLM WALKER P.Eng. November 5, 1937 - September 26, 2021 John was born and raised in Cornwall, Ontario. After graduating from high school he briefly worked for the local paper manufacturing company before deciding that a career in Engineering is where he really wanted to be. He applied to McGill University, was accepted in 1958 and graduated as an electrical engineer in the spring of 1962. John had a lifelong interest in all things technical and engineering design. If it worked, John wanted to know how and why. His love of precision was legendary. While finishing his studies at McGill, John met and fell head over heels for Lorraine, a nurse, and the girl of his dreams. They married and remained inseparable until her death in 2019. Theirs was a love affair for the ages. John had enlisted in the ROTC (Canadian Military) plan while in school, which required him to spend two years with the service after graduation. This meant that John and Lorraine spent their first years of marriage in Senneterre, Quebec where John was involved in nuclear engineering projects and Lorraine worked as a nurse with some Indigenous communities. Following this first adventure together, the couple relocated to Toronto and John began work with Ontario Hydro's Nuclear Division. They purchased their first home on a cozy street in Toronto where they established roots and thrived in their local community of friendly neighbours. In Toronto, John and Lorraine made lifelong friends and lived out their days in the place they loved best of all. On a professional level, after John left Ontario Hydro he took a position as an electrical design engineer with Giffels Associates Limited, Design Engineers and Architects. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming head of his department, and, in time, President of the company. His appetite for new projects and curiosity for engineering possibilities never abated. John retired from Giffels in 1994. John indulged his lifelong sense of adventure and competition through fast cars, sports, and sailing. In fact, John was bitten hard by the sailing bug, and purchased several boats through his life. He and Lorraine became members of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club where they made more friends and began sailboat racing in earnest. His favourite racing venue was Lake Ontario, especially at night! John skippered and sailed until age dictated that he no longer had the strength to continue. However, he never stopped being thrilled with the race - and was known to stream the America's Cup competition on his computer from his balcony in Maui, Hawaii where he and Lorraine loved to vacation for months at a time. Following retirement, John developed a fascination with woodworking and pursued it with the same intensity that he brought to all his adventures. He loved to experiment with new techniques and design and many friends were the lucky recipients of his creations. He was a voracious reader who tore through hundreds of books on his Kindle and loved sharing great book recommendations with friends. In the last decade, John spent a lot of his time with friends, family, and caring for his beloved Lorraine whose health had declined significantly until she passed away in 2019. John stayed connected with friends and family as best he could during the challenging time of the pandemic - 'Zooming' with University mates, family members, and connecting with his neighbours to the extent that he could. John passed away peacefully in his sleep on September 26, 2021. He is mourned by family (cherished Uncle of Shawna) and friends he has made over the course of a lifetime. His smile, warm wave, and easygoing manner will be missed by all. Infinite Peace, Light, and Love to you, John.