JOHN GOULDING PARKINSON

PARKINSON, QC, JOHN GOULDING Passed away suddenly but peacefully, at the age of 90, on January 19, 2019, in his home at the Glynnwood Retirement Residence in Thornhill, Ontario. John was born on July 24, 1928, the youngest child of H. Fred Parkinson and Elsie Parkinson née Goulding and was predeceased by his beloved sisters Jean and Doris. He attended Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute and the University of Toronto, then graduated in 1955 from Osgoode Hall Law School. He joined and then later became a partner in Gardiner Roberts and practiced with that firm for more than forty years, specializing in administrative and municipal law. In 1958 he married Katherine Ann Teresa Noonan, daughter of George and Kathleen Noonan née Moynihan of Pakenham, Ontario, with whom he had a long and loving marriage until her death in 2003. John is survived by his three children Kathryn (Kate), David and his husband Giovanni Spezzacatena and Brian and his wife Kim Phelan. John was a patient listener who was always willing to use his talents and energy to support and counsel others. He touched countless lives and all who knew him will recall with affection his sense of humour, love of a good story and all-around joy in living. He was an avid downhill skier, golfer and bridge player and had a wide circle of friends at Mansfield, Thornhill and throughout the legal community all around Southern Ontario. John was a former President of the Lawyers' Club of Toronto, former Chairman of the Sir William Campbell Foundation, former President and Honorary Life Member of The Thornhill Club, a founding member and former Secretary of Mansfield Ski Club, member and Director of the Conservation Foundation of Greater Toronto (now the Toronto and Region Conservation Foundation), National Counsel to the Canadian Diabetes Association, member of the Markham Railroad Modellers, member of the Stanley Thompson Society and a longtime associate of Bill W. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be made to the Canadian Diabetes Association or the Toronto and Region Conservation Foundation in memory of John. A Celebration of John's Life will be held at The Thornhill Club on Saturday, April 6, 2019, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. John's children and their spouses welcome all who knew him to share stories, to laugh and to bid him a fond farewell.