Obituary of John Lawer

JOHN VINCENT LAWER, Q.C. 1929 - 2016 John Vincent Lawer, a lifelong resident of Toronto, born on Easter Sunday, March 31, 1929, passed away in Toronto on Tuesday, March 29, 2016, surrounded by family. Predeceased by his father, Cyril John Edward Lawer, his mother, Kathleen Humphrys Robinson, and his wife, Audrey Stella Robbins, he is survived by his stepdaughter, Lori Cane, son-in-law, Michael Cane, grandchildren, Stephen, Simon (Lucy), Melanie (John Tory), five great-grandchildren, a sister-in-law, Betty Robbins, four nephews in the United States and many cousins in Canada, England and the United States. He attended public and high schools in Toronto, and in 1951 graduated with an honours B.A. degree in Modern History and Modern Languages from Trinity College, University of Toronto. In 1955 he graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School, Toronto. He was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1966. He subsequently received an LL.B degree from York University and earned the degree of Master of Laws (LL.M) from the Faculty of Law, University of Toronto. He practiced his profession in Toronto for over sixty years, the first thirty with the well-respected firm of Phelan O'Brien and subsequently as a sole practitioner. He was a Life Member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, a member of the Canadian Bar Association, the Lawyers Club of Toronto and the Osgoode Society. He is a former Trustee of the Sir William Campbell Foundation. An Anglican, he was a long-time member of the Church of the Transfiguration, Toronto, where he served as Chairman of Sidesmen, Peoples' Warden, Rector's Warden, member of the Advisory Board and long-time Lay Member of the Synod of the Diocese of Toronto. At the Diocesan level he served as Lay Secretary of Synod, Chairman of the Church Development Board and the Boundaries Committee and a member of the Executive Committee, the Trusts Committee, the Constitution and Canons Committee, the Bishop's Court, a number of Bishop's Commissions and as a Commissioner of the First York Rectory Fund. In 2014 he was appointed by the Archbishop of Toronto as a recipient of the Order of the Diocese of Toronto. He was for many years President of the St. Stephen's House Property Corporation. He was armigerous by the Canadian Heraldic Authority and was a member of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada. A Serving Brother of the Venerable Order of St. John (SBSJ), he was a Knight of Justice of the Military and Hospitaller Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem (KLJ, MMLJ). Admitted to the Freedom of the City of London, he was a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Upholders and a Past Master of the Honourable Company of Freemen of the City of London of North America. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (FRSA). A Past President of Toronto Branch and a Past National President and National Chairman of The English-Speaking Union of Canada, he organized in 1989, with his wife, Audrey, and hosted, at Ottawa, the World Members' Conference of the E.S.U. He was Honorary Counsel of the St. George's Society of Toronto and served ten years as a Member of the Committee of Management, including five years as Honorary Secretary of the Society. He was a Life Member of the Empire Club of Canada, a member of the Royal Commonwealth Society, Toronto Branch, the Monarchist League of Canada and the Canadian Royal Heritage Trust. He was an Honorary Kentucky Colonel. He was a member of Toronto East ACJ/UCJ Council 1065 United Commercial Travelers. A member of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (FCIS), he was awarded the designation Professional Administrator (P. Adm). Active in many branches of the Masonic Order, he was a Past Master of Zetland Wilson Lodge, A.F.&A.M. of Canada No. 86, a Grand Steward and twice appointed Honorary Member of the Board of General Purposes of the Grand Lodge A.F&A.M. of Canada in the Province of Ontario. He was a life member of King Solomon's Chapter No. 8 GRC, a Past First Principal of the Royal Arch Chapter of St. Andrew and St. John No. 4 GRC and a Past Grand Senior Sojourner of Grand Chapter. A member of Adoniram Council No. 2, he was elected in 1998 as Cryptic Rite Mason of the Year by the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of Ontario. A Past Governor of Athelstan York Rite College No. 41, he was awarded the Order of the Purple Cross and made an Associate Regent of the York Rite Sovereign College of North America and appointed Chairman, Committee on Wills and Trusts, Canada. He was a Director of the York Rite Sovereign College of Canada Charitable Foundation from 1999 and was elected President in 2012. A life member of Holy Land Conclave No. 3, he was the founding High Prelate of Holy Trinity Conclave No. 34 which he served as Most Puissant Sovereign in 1993. In 2001 he was elected Grand Sovereign of Grand Imperial Conclave. The incorporator and founding Director of the Grand Imperial Conclave of Canada Charitable Foundation, he was elected President of the Foundation in 1998. A life member of Geoffrey de St. Aldemar Preceptory No. 2 K.T., he was appointed Chairman of the Jurisprudence Committee of Sovereign Great Priory of Canada and awarded the prestigious Order of Merit in 2013. He was the incorporating Director of the Knights Templar Charitable Foundation of Canada in 2003. Joining Scottish Rite Freemasonry in 1958, he served the Toronto Bodies for ten years as Assistant Secretary and then Secretary. In 1970 he was coroneted an Honorary Inspector-General 33° and in 1975 he was crowned a Sovereign Grand Inspector-General 33° Active Member of Supreme Council on which he served in several capacities including Grand Secretary General, until in 1991, he was elected for a triennium as Sovereign Grand Commander of the Supreme Council of Canada. He is an Honorary Member of the Supreme Councils of Australia, Brazil, England and Wales, Finland, France, Mexico, the Netherlands, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction USA and Southern Jurisdiction, USA. In 1977 he was elected a Director of the Scottish Rite Charitable Foundation of Canada and served as Secretary from 1977-1991. Elected as President in 1998, he served in that capacity until 2008. A Shriner, he is a member of Rameses Temple, Toronto. He was elected a Life Member of the Provincial Grand Lodge for the Province of Ontario of the Royal Order of Scotland in 1976. He was a Life Member of the Albany Club of Toronto, a Senior Member of the Granite Club and a Life Member of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club, and a Life Member and former Chairman of the Insurance Committee, of the Toronto Region Board of Trade. Always an enthusiastic traveler, he visited some thirty-seven countries on six continents, including one circumnavigation of the earth. The family wish to thank Dr. Anthony Brade and the team at Princess Margaret Hospital for their care during John's cancer journey and also Dr. Sandy Buchman at the Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care for his dedicated gentle care of John and his support to the family. We would also like to thank all his caregivers especially Miriam Garcia for her many years of loyal devotion. The family will receive friends at the HUMPHREY FUNERAL HOME A.W. MILES - NEWBIGGING CHAPEL, 1403 Bayview Avenue (south of Davisville Avenue) from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 5th. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, April 6th at 11:00 a.m. in THE CHURCH OF THE TRANSFIGURATION, 111 Manor Road East, Toronto. Private family interment at Mount Pleasant Cemetery. If desired, donations to the Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care, 60 Murray Street, 4th Floor, Toronto M5T 3L9 would be appreciated. Condolences and memories may be forwarded through www.humphreymilesnewbigging.com. Huc nos venimus.