August 1956 - December 2021
We are devastated to announce the sudden passing of John Robert MacLean on December 20, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario. John will be forever missed by his wife, Karen; his children Teresa (Joseph), Darrick (Cecilia), and Kristina; his grandchildren Jasper, Vinicios, and Micah; his brothers and sisters Sandra (Don), Peter (Katrin), James (Carolyn), and Sheila (Kevin). He will be missed greatly by his many nieces and nephews, other family members, and friends near and far. John was born on August 14, 1956 in Orillia, Ontario to Sally Margaret Olive Sheil of Perth, Ontario and Peter Alexander MacLean of Orillia, Ontario. He had a happy childhood of fishing, competitive swimming, boating, and lifeguarding. He attended the University of Waterloo where he was a member of the Warriors Swim Team and was inducted into the University of Waterloo Warriors Hall of Fame, graduating with an Honours Degree in Chemistry. John later attended York University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Administrative Studies, Finance and Accounting. A brilliant chemist, John loved explaining the chemistry behind coatings and reminding his children that E=mc2. He worked for several chemical companies before founding Northspec Chemicals Corp. in 2001 and retiring in 2018. He spent his last few years investing, staying active and embracing life as a Grandpa. John was a runner who completed multiple marathons, including the New York City Marathon in 2015. He was also an avid fisherman, spending his later years organizing and competing in derbies with the Port Whitby Marina Sport Fishing Association. Often found enjoying his cottage, on one of his boats, lake or lane swimming, John always loved being around water. John was the kindest, silliest, wittiest person, and always thought of others. More than anything, John was a family man, who shared many laughs with his wife, kids, grandkids and many others. He would always be found with a camcorder in his hand and a smile on his face enjoying all of life's moments. Loved by all who knew him, John was taken much too soon and we will always cherish our memories of him.
A funeral has already been held.