Samuel James JOHNSTON

JOHNSTON, Samuel James December 22, 1931 – December 26, 2020 Sam was born in Toronto, December 22, 1931. After a brief illness, Sam passed peacefully at the age of 89, on December 26, 2020, with his family at his side. Predeceased in 2014 by the love of his life and wife of over 58 years, Anne (nee Foster) and their faithful Spaniel, Rex. Predeceased by his parents, Samuel and Margaret (nee Gillespie), who immigrated from Northern Ireland. The second youngest of seven siblings, Sam is survived by his sister, Georgie, and predeceased by sisters, Helen, Effie, Pat, Grace and Jacqueline. Loving father to his son, Randal and his wife Jocelyne, and grandfather to Garrett, Sarah, and the family dog, Oreo. Loving father to his son, Mark and his wife Lesley, and grandfather to Quinten, Ainsley, and the family cat, Rocky. Sam had a successful career of 55 years in the computer technology industry. Sam started at IBM Canada on May 12, 1951 and spent 42 years participating in the birth and evolution of the computer age. Upon his retirement from IBM in 1993, Sam became Chief Technology Officer and a founding partner at Intesys Network Communications Ltd. where he remained active until 2006 when the company was acquired by Bell Canada. Sam was a pioneering, prominent and respected guru in the field of network and data communication. Sam was an active and energetic member of the IBM computing world. He penned a monthly technical advice column, "Communicating with Sam" from 1994 until his retirement in 2006, which appeared in the Toronto User Group Magazine. A brilliant mind with infinite intellect and boundless curiosity, who will be remembered as a straight shooter with a silly side – above all, humble and honest. Sammy will be missed by many but never forgotten. Due to current COVID restrictions, attendance at the funeral service is by invitation only. Please join the family on Tuesday, January 5, 2021, at 1:00 p.m., as we livestream the funeral service from our chapel. Please click on the following link: www.livememorialservices.com/ Home/ServiceDetail/9032 The livestream recording will be available for 60 days from the date of the service. Please take a moment to leave a message for the family on the online Guestbook, www.mceachniefuneral.ca