Trevor Smith Johnson

It's with heavy hearts that we share the news of our father's passing. Trevor Johnson left our world on January 8, 2020 after a short battle with cancer. He was a most beloved, 94 years young family patriarch who lived life to the fullest – from his love of travel, golf and bridge to spending time with his growing family: 3 children, 7 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. Born and raised in Shropshire, England, Trevor received his education as a professional engineer and then served 3 years in the British army as a lieutenant in Malaysia. He immigrated to Canada in 1948 where he eventually became a part of the engineering team at Ontario Hydro, active at many sites for the remainder of his working days. Here in Canada, Trevor met and married the love of his life, Patricia Smith. Pat often laughed about his proposal, a simple but odd question: "Would you want to go to New Zealand with me?" They first settled in Niagara Falls where daughters Susann and Wendy were born, before moving his family to a remote area well north of Kenora in Caribou, where son Ron was born. Trevor worked for many years to help design and build electric power stations in both remote northern locations and cities all throughout Ontario. Trevor was a life-long traveller and adventurer – it was his passion. This love took him and his expertise along with his family to Ghana, West Africa, in the early 1960s to participate in a major hydroelectric project at Akosombo that would help to modernize the country's services and meet the needs of its growing population. Returning to Canada, he and family settled in Sarnia for a few years before moving back to Mississauga, where he eventually retired with Pat.
Trevor and Pat continued to explore the world after retirement, from driving thousands of kilometres across Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, to cruising the seas around South America, the South Pacific and Europe. He sadly lost Patricia in 2004 but continued to show his sense of adventure by moving out of the family home into a modern condo, becoming adept at surfing the Internet, and venturing out into the world again. Every year, he spent a few months in the trailer that he and Pat had purchased in Florida, enjoying golf rather than snow in the winter months. Gradually, family members began to join him there for short furloughs. Trevor always loved to spend time with his growing family and hosted "The Great Canadian Invasion" of his home town in Ludlow, England in 2017, when 13 of us took over his favourite pubs and walking trails. Following that was a trip to Portugal and later, China, with Ron and his wife Pat, where he fulfilled a dream of his - to ride the fastest train in the world. Just a big kid, a lad of 93 years. Trevor's intuitive ability to problem-solve a way through any building or repair project was inspirational to us all as he spawned many do-it-yourselfers in the family. Wendy recalls looking at the empty space under her aging car's hood as the 3000 pieces of its engine were spread across Trevor's garage floor. Not to worry he said ... a week later he handed her the key to start it up and give it a test drive! And visiting Susann at her rural retreat in upstate New York filled him with anticipation of projects and wood- cutting. His gift of always delighting in the mysteries of how things worked and were put together gave us all a higher view. Trevor's kind, stable, matter-of-fact ways will be truly missed. As per his express wishes, there was no visitation or funeral. A Celebration of Life for friends and family may occur in the coming months. So we say a sad farewell to a most wonderful human being … wishing you wonderful, cosmic travels, Dad, as you reunite with Mom!