With great sadness, we announce the passing of John (Jack) Strawbridge, on March 27, 2025. Jack passed away peacefully from glioblastoma, surrounded by love and family. He faced his illness with grace, strength, and the quiet dignity that defined his life.
Jack was born in 1943 in Oshawa, Ontario, and spent 45 meaningful years living and working in Newfoundland, a place he held close to his heart. After retiring, he moved to Victoria, BC, where he found new joy and companionship with his beloved partner, Barbara.
He was a proud and devoted father to his daughters Justine (Jim) and Kristina (Oran), and a deeply loved grandfather to Curtis, Sophie, Max, and Finn. Jack also leaves behind his dear sister Susan (Jim).
Jack will be fondly remembered for his love of cooking, his passion for reading, and his gentle, thoughtful spirit. He touched many lives with his quiet strength, dry wit, and warm heart.
A Celebration of Life will be held on May 17th, 2025, from 2:00 to 5:00 pm in the Sequoia Centre at McCall Gardens, 4665 Falaise Drive, Victoria, BC. Friends and loved ones are invited to join in remembering Jack and sharing stories of a life well lived.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to BC Cancer in Jack’s memory.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
This obituary is the property of the “Strawbridge” family and may not be reproduced, distributed, or altered in any way without prior written consent.
22 Responses
Dear Justine and Kristina,
I was just speaking with your Aunt Susan, to share the death of your dad’s cousin, Bill Strawbridge in Stratford when I discovered that your father had died. I haven’t seen him for years but I know my father communicated with him. Susan and your father were his only cousins in Canada. Reading your dad’s obituary he sounds a lot like my father – voracious reader, great intellect and memory – it must be something they inherited from their grandfather. I am so sorry for your loss and you have my deepest sympathy. Perhaps some day our paths will cross. Blessings, Elaine Strawbridge
I worked with Jack for 29 years at MUN. I worked with him when he was head of the psychology department, when he was Assistant Dean of Sceince and when he moved into university administration. Jack had all of the attributes ascribed to him by others and then some. The only attribute is haven’t heard mentioned yet, was his skill as a raconteur
I was always envious of Jack’s ability, he could tell a story about something that had happend to him or to a friend in a way that made the event, no matter how mundane, a work of art.
So sad to hear of Jack’s passing and my deepest condolences to his family . Jack was head of our department of psychology at MUN at the time that I arrived in Newfoundland in the 80s. He was a great leader and mentor to me in my early years as a young faculty member. I will never forget his wise and candid advice that was always combined with a knowing smile and a very caring demeanour. I will miss you Jack
I have very positive memories of Jack, coming from many years at MUN
David Rendell
So sorry to hear of Jack’s passing. Jack was a pleasure to work with. His impact on Memorial and on the many people that he mentored cannot be overstated. Jack was thoughtful, kind and generous. He also always seemed unflappable and calm despite the challenging situations in which he sometimes found himself in his role in Faculty Relations. It is not surprising to see from the comments of others that he continued to make his skills available through volunteer work in Victoria. He will be missed on both coasts.
I am so sorry to hear this news. During my time in administration at MUN, Jack was my most trusted source of wise counsel. I was especially impressed with the way he handled negotiating sessions with MUNFA; no matter how heated the discussions became, he always stayed calm and respectful, never taking the bait. My deepest condolences to the family.
We were so sad to hear that Jack had died. He was an exceptional colleague and university leader. His wry sense of humour allowed him to listen to everyone’s point of view, and his advice always showed he clearly knew the difference between right and wrong in human affairs. We send our heartfelt condolences to his family.
Annette and Michael Staveley.
Jack was a great person to work with and I had the pleasure of doing so for many years. So many good memories! He was hard-working, dedicated, and one of the most fair-minded people I have ever encountered. His love for Memorial was apparent and he understood its fundamental importance to our Province as well as anyone. Jack had a tough job but managed to do it with grace and good humour. He was a fountain of knowledge, emparted wisdom with kindess, and was a mentor to many of us. I will miss him.
My condolences to his family.
Kristina and Justine, so sad to hear about your dad’s passing. Arianne, Kito and Adriel join me in sending our sincere condolences.
It was a pleasure interacting with Jack at MUN when I was a new instructor twenty years ago. Jack was a guest speaker, a couple times, in my labour relations classes, and it was always fun and interesting when he would share his experience, opinions, and expertise with my undergrads. He was always patient and polite while also nudging them to see things from different perspectives.
Very sorry, to his family and friends, for your loss.