August 1, 1942 – May 23, 2013
It is with broken hearts filled by sorrow that we say goodbye to our beloved Johnnie.
On May 23, 2013, John Thomas Harper passed away with the love of his family surrounding him. John leaves behind his beloved wife, Vlasta; his son Stafford (Tracy); his daughters Theresa and Cynthia and grandson Oscar; his sister Susan Lindsay and brother Glen Harper along with his nieces, nephew and their families.
If you were fortunate enough to have known Johnnie then you will know that today the world has lost a special person not just for those who were close to him, having owned and operated the Esquire Barbershop for over 40 years, John was a trusted friend and confidant to many. Anyone lucky enough to have made his acquaintance will recognize that he was a man with a generous heart and his kindness was limitless.
You will always be on our minds and forever in our hearts…There will be no service by request, a private service for family will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the BC Cancer Foundation. Condolences may be offered to the family below.
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Lance Waterman
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Gary Haupthoff It is with great sadness that I learned of Johns passing. He was my barber and friend for many years. We would talk of cars, and travel. I remember him when I was a child cutting hair of my friends at the time back in the late 70’s. I miss him. He was a good man! My condolences to the family.
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Susan Lindsay On behalf of Vlasta and Family, we wish to thank all of those who sent in their wonderful heartfelt condolences. They helped us all to get through this sad time in our lives. We also wish to acknowledge the care and attention the family received from McCall Bros. Thank you.
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Phil Winterbottom I wish to belatedly offer my deepest sympathies to Vlasta and John’s family. I was away and unaware of John until recently.
I was a customer of John for over 44 years since he opened his Esquire Barber Shop in early 1969 when we also opened our business in the same building. John became a friend as well as my barber as we exchanged news of our families. I will miss these exhanges.
John was a very humble, kind and compassionate person who passed away too soon.With deepest sympathy from,
Phil Winterbottom
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Pauline and Rudi Samoszynski Dear Vlasta,
We were so sad to hear that John has passed away after such a long struggle. We were impressed with your strength, courage and the love you gave him during his long illness. We know this strength and courage will help to support you in the months ahead. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
With love from your friends Pauline and Rudi
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Terry Dunlop To John’s family,
I have known John for 40 years as a client and a friend having moved to Victoria in 1973 and Johns was the first place I stopped for a haircut. I had the previlege of being his client the last day he worked at the shop. I will always remember his coutesy and caring about the lives of his clients. I am so very sorry to hear of his passing as I saw him at the hospital several days before as I was doing my volunteer work on the cardiac ward. I will always remember him and continue to go to his shop as long as I can.
Deepest sympathy and warnest thoughts at this time.
Terry Dunlop
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Robert Vanderbyl I was taken back and shocked when I saw John’s obituaries in the paper, He was a gentleman and just a really nice guy. My prayers go out to his family and he will be missed.
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Susan Lindsay I heard this quote and thought it was exactly how I felt about my brother Johnnie,
” I was proud to know you,
I was proud you were ours
I will love you forever”Thank you for a lifetime of memories. Your sister Susan xx
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Bill Palamar Today has been a very sad day. Sad, because I called John for an appointment and a strange voice told me that John had retired. Shocked that he would just retire without telling anyone was just not John’s way of doing things! In fact, John has stated to me on several occasions that was not likely to happen.
Curiosity getting the better of me, I called his home and when I asked to speak to John, his wife gave me the bad news and was genuinely shocked.
John and I go all the way back to 1969 or 1970 and I can tell you that better people are very hard to find. He was a skilled barber and a real gentleman who always displayed a gentle demeanor.
I miss you already, John and say hi to Stan for me!
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Brian Turner I moved into John’s 765/777 Broughton building in the fall of 1981. When I needed a haircut, one of my co-workers recommended John, in the Esquire, just downstairs. I tried him, and continued using his great services, enjoying our conversations, until the spring of 2013, some 32 years of friendship! Even after I retired in 1999, I continued to drive downtown to give my business to him.
I was shocked to see his obit in the newspaper so soon after he retired, and had no idea there was a serious problem with his health. I will certainly miss my every 4-6 week visits with him, as will hundreds of others. Please accept my most sincere condolences in the loss of this fine man.
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Doug Adderley I was saddened to read John’s obituary in today’s paper (May 30). John and I go a long way back to his early days in the orginal Den on Yates St. and continued almost until I retired some 16 years ago. I was in the RC Navy in the early days and then worked in the provincial government. I even acted as amodel for him in some of his early courses beyond basic barbering. We had great laughs interspersed with serious and happy convesations while he plied his stlying techniques.
I am certain that all his clients will remember him with great fondness for a great guy and fine barber and stylist. God bless him and his family. Doug
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Peter Woods I was a client of John’s for more than 30 years. He was a good barber but an even better friend – always willing to chat, listen and share life experiences.
It happened that I worked next door and the Esquire was convenient that I first came to his shop. But even after retirement I didn’t think twice about changing. I just didn’t want to give up the pleasure of our periodic visits.
I will sincerely miss his friendship after all these years. My kindest condolences to John’s family.
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Gordon Wheatley I have been one of John’s clients for the past ten years. I know John will be greatly missed by all those with whom he came into contact.
My condolences go out to the family.
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Terje Vold I was so saddened to hear of the passing of John Harper and offer my heartfelt condolences to his entire family. John was my barber for the last 35 years since around 1978. Even when I moved to Metchosin 23 years ago, and even after I retired from working in downtown Victoria about 10 years ago, not once did I ever consider changing barbers. John was so incredibly kind and generous sharing his insights. I so looked forward to those days when I would bike on the Gallooping Goose to town to get my haircut – as I so appreciated having a chance to chat with John. He shared with me his adventures crusing, and when my wife and I booked our first cruise last year to Alaska, he answered my many questions. I was getting both a haircut and travel consulting services at the same time! I loved to hear about his vacation trips with his wife, and he asked about mine. I will miss John so much as I know will be the case with his many loyal friends who were fortunate enough to have John as their barber.
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Shirley Barbour I just read in the obituaries of John’s passing and I wanted to pass on our sincere condolences to Vlasta, Stafford and family. We had great memories with our children Vlasta and David and Michael asked me to send their heartfelt sadness for your loss. Shirley, Ian, David and Michael Barbour
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SABY HIGGIN Dear Vlasta
So so sorry to hear that your beloved Johnnie has passed away.
He was such a good person. All my condolences to you and your family.
It was that wonderful Johnnie that introduced me to my best friend Sue.
L&H Saby
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Bernie Leavitt To all of John’s Family
My thoughts and prayers are with John’s family and good friends.John will be sadly missed by me as I have gone to him for over 41 years to have my hair cut and all the stories throughout our lives that we have shared. our sports talks Especially about his favorite football team Miami Dolphins!!! , and how much he loved his family and friends ! and what is said in his Barber chair stays in his Barber’s chair as he was truly a professional at his trade.
Condolences to all his family
Bernie Leavitt
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Maxine Kootnekoff I so very rarely look at the obits. And just at my dentist office picked up the paper and could hardly believe what I saw. I was married to John’s best freind many years ago and got to know him so well. Through his work with Lyle in Port Alberni and then on to Victoria. He was in a youthful stage of life and enjoyed every minute of it. Through the years I would time to time phone or stop in to see John and it was always such a joy to see his smiling face and hear his gentle voice. I now and again look back at pictures and remember the John we all knew and loved. My ex has also passed and who knows maybe they will buddy up again in a place that has yet to be discovered by those remaining. One thing sure he is no longer suffering and is at peace. I also lost my Son to cancer, John was there at the time he was born and after a few years he would take Kevin’s hand and take him for long walks. Maybe just mayber they can again. go for a walk. You were a gentle loving person John. I know that your family was important to you and so many many people will miss you, God Speed.
Maxine Kootnekoff
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Victor Barwin John was the first person I met when I moved to Victoria in 1975 and he remained a tusted friend and barber all these years. When I was down, he cheered me up and when I was happy, he shared in my joy. I now have an emptiness in my heart that can never be filled, but I am comforted by a warmth of having known such a warm and genrous spirit that was John.
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Vince Collins Dear Vlasta,
I share your sorrow and terrible sense of loss with the passing of John.
I had the privilege of being one of John’s customers for almost 40 years. Over the years, I came to know so much of John’s life and his deep love for you, Stafford and other members of his family.
While I was a frequent customer of John’s, our visits every three weeks were far more about friendship, keeping in touch with each others lives and swapping our latest stories. While he was surely my barber, he was most importantly my Friend. Like you, I miss him terribly.
I hope you can take comfort in knowing that John was a wonderful man and that so many of us were touched by his gentle, kind and loving nature.
I wish you, Stafford and the rest of your family the very best in this sad and stressful time. Please accept my sincere condolences.
Vince Collins
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Stephen Gale I spent three years working with John at the Esquire and obviously got to know him very well. He was a friend and a co-worker and I am so sorry to see that he was taken so young. I give my condolences to Johns family who I know for a fact was the centre of Johns life as I heard many times how proud he was of them. John shared with me his past life especially his time in Florida. Johns heart was in the right place and though he had challenges as we all do, he never let them break him. He was in many ways an inspiration to me and a great help many times. I will miss him and sincerely pray that the Lord will help all of you get through these tough times ahead. God bless you Johns much loved Vlasta and Stafford you were always on his mind and in his heart.
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Bill Parker I am a long time customer of John’s and over the years came to think of him more as a friend than my barber. He was the consumate class act. My condolences to his family.
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Leona Frenette Years ago, when I was travelling by bus to work and back I always enjoyed my chats with John. Such a happy and smiling face. I am saddend by the passing of such a great neighbour yet relieved to know that his suffering is over.
Vlasta and Glen, my thoughts and prayers are with you and yours at this time of change.
Your neighbour on Hampshire Hill.
My first haircut of my life until I moved from Victoria was with John. About 22 years of visits. I’ll never forget the Playboy magazines he had there or how he enjoyed a smoke while working. Wonderfully kind, gentle and always cool.
One of a kind!