TURNER ROSS JOHN

JOHN TURNER ROSS
John Ross passed away peacefully on September 8, 2007, after a long illness. Loving husband, father and friend, John was always quick to bring laughs and joy to the many lives he touched. He will be missed. Born in Quebec City on June 12, 1930, he was educated at Bishop's College School and Middlebury College, before he became a teacher at Sedburgh School in Montebello, PQ. John's career in film and television began in 1954 when Bob Lawrence asked him to open a Canadian branch of Robert Lawrence Productions (RLP The same year, John .) married the love of his life, Rosemary MacKeen, a beautiful artist from Ottawa. John and Rosemary began a new life in Toronto and raised a family that grew to include four children: J ohn , Wend y, A li s on a nd Shelagh; numerous pets and eventually, seven grandchildren: Jonathan, Alexander, Graham, Andrew, Hanna, Brychan and Ross. John successfully produced hundreds of commercials and several films and TV programs in partnership with Muppet creator, Jim Henson and cartoonist, Ben Wicks. In 1979, John entered a new chapter of his career when he helped form Linpar Completion Corp. which then merged with Film Finances. John was also actively involved in film industry politics and many organizations, including ACTRA. More importantly, John was a family man and he always put his family first. Big in stature and in heart, he was always quick with a joke, relentlessly unselfish and always spoke from the heart. He will also be missed by his brother Robert Ross and sister Alice Aird, as well as his extended family of daughter and sons-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. A celebration of John's life will be held at the York Club on Friday, September 14, 2007 at 3:00pm at 135 St. George Street, Toronto. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to an organization that his daughter Shelagh is actively involved in: Canadian Congenital Heart Alliance, 6835 Century Ave. 2nd Floor, Mississauga, Ont. L5N 2L2. Make cheques payable to CCHA/CACH or go to www.cchaonline.ca.