John Richard Harris, Alumnus

Peacefully at Parkwood Institute, John Richard Harris passed away in his 98th year. John was born and raised in Toronto. He joined the RCAF in 1941, serving as a navigator on a Halifax Bomber. The sole survivor of his aircrew, he spent two years as a prisoner of war in Germany, taking part in The Great Escape. A graduate of University of Toronto, and Carleton, John taught High School in Ottawa for 18 years, before moving to London in 1967 where he joined the administration at the newly opened Fanshawe College.

In his retirement, he wrote a wartime memoir entitled “Serving and Surviving”. On many Remembrance Days, and other occasions, he generously shared his wartime experiences with the public. After the war, he married his high school sweetheart Violet Kelly (predeceased). He will be greatly missed by his daughters, Anne and Catherine, and his grandchildren Kimberly, Suzanne, John, and Stephen. Cremation has taken place. Those wishing to make donations in memory of John are asked to consider the Canadian Red Cross. We wish to express our gratitude to the staff at Parkwood who provided him with wonderful care during the last year of his life.