Barbara Jean Morton

Barbara Jean Morton (née Mayer) passed away peacefully in Toronto on September 7, 2024, at the age of 83, from complications due to Alzheimer’s Disease. She is survived by her four children Wendy Velasco (Edmund), Brian (Jen Mansfield), Eric (Sara), and Rebecca (Eric Lee), her brothers William (Cindy) and David (Sherla) Mayer, and her grandchildren Lauren Velasco (Michael Harden), Julian Velasco, Renee Morton, and Anna Morton.

Barbara was born in St. Paul, Minnesota to parents Andrew and Barbara Mayer. She came from a long line of strong-willed women who were passionate and accomplished teachers. She inherited a love of literature and learning from both her mother and grandmother. Barbara expressed these attributes throughout her life in all of her professional and personal pursuits.

Barbara attended the University of Chicago with a major in Mathematics, and received a Bachelor's degree in Education. There she met her now former husband Richard Morton, whom she married shortly after graduation. They moved to Hamilton, Ontario in 1969. Barbara loved their vibrant Westdale community, which remained her home for almost 50 years.

Barbara began her teaching career at the Hamilton Hebrew Academy, where she spent over 30 years as a beloved teacher, known equally for her high standards and creativity. She went above and beyond to enrich their curriculum with creative writing and performing arts. The "Grade Five Play” which she both instituted and directed, was an annual highlight for the school.

In 1989, Barbara expanded her reach as an educator, opening her first Kumon Learning Centre for math and reading, and then opening subsequent branches in smaller communities. Branching into being a business woman, Barbara then founded her own program, The Knowledge Tree, which brought her engaging approach to learning to hundreds of students until her retirement in 2018.

Barbara loved music. As a child she begged for piano lessons, but with no instrument at home she had to go to her friend’s house to practice. She was a member of the Murray High School saxophone quartet in Minnesota, which skated onto the ice to perform during halftime at the hockey games. Naturally, when it came to her own children’s interest in music, she didn’t hesitate. She recognized the value of music as yet another educational pathway, and in turn got each of her four children involved, who in turn passed it down to all of her grandchildren. She put full effort into ensuring that her children had access not only to good teaching and instruments, but to as many opportunities as possible to perform and to play with others. Her two daughters have both grown up to become professional classical musicians, as has one of her grandchildren.

Beyond her home, Barbara rescued the Hamilton Kiwanis Music Festival, on the brink of folding, keeping this community institution going for many years.

Barbara was never short of energy. Whether auditing classes at McMaster University, or attending one of her multiple book clubs, her camera club, or creative writing and photography classes, she was always active. She especially enjoyed her years with the Halton Outdoor Club, with which she frequently traveled on hiking, biking and ski trips. She even completed the Chicago Marathon, and was always looking for times to downhill ski with her grandchildren (where she taught them about prime numbers from the ski lift).

As her Alzheimer’s progressed, Barbara moved to Toronto where she could be closer to her daughter Rebecca, after a short stint living in Dundas.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer Society of Toronto or the Hamilton Music Collective. 

The family plans to host a celebration of life on November 16, 2024 from 3-5pm at The First Unitarian Church of Hamilton, 170 Dundurn Street South. All are welcome.

The family would like to express their immense gratitude to Barbara's personal caregiver Desiree M who cared for Barbara as though she were a member of her own family. The family also wishes to express heartfelt appreciation to the caregivers at Cedarhurst Dementia Care where Barbara was fortunate to spend her final days.