Obituary of John Connell

John Connell John Alexander Connell died in Toronto with family by his side on September 26, 2009 in his 88th year. Born on February 2, 1922 in Bothwell, Scotland, he graduated from the Royal Commercial Travellers' School in Middlesex, England in 1938. John joined H. J. Heinz Company as a sales clerk in the Edinburgh Branch Office. He enlisted with the Royal Air Force in 1940 and served with distinction during the Second World War as a Pilot Officer, specializing in radar operations.Rejoining H. J. Heinz after the war, he rose to become Sales and Marketing Director of the British company, President of Heinz Canada, President of Heinz USA and finally Senior Vice-President and a member of the Heinz Board with responsibility for Europe and Africa. After retirement from H. J. Heinz in 1985 he held directorships at Unipart and Carrington Viyella in the UK.Married to Leonora Joan Surie on June 15, 1946, he was the father of Anne (Charles) Coffey of Toronto and Peter who lives in Singapore. He is survived by his wife, children, three grandchildren - Andrew, Catherine and Jonathan Coffey - and his sister, Margaret Thomson, of Kincardine, Scotland. Although in excellent health all his life, he died the victim of a tragic car accident while holidaying on the shores of his beloved Jack's Lake, north of Toronto.A funeral service will be held in the HUMPHREY FUNERAL HOME - A.W. MILES CHAPEL, 1403 Bayview Avenue (south of Davisville Avenue) on Thursday, October 1, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made payable to the St Michael's Hospital Foundation - Trauma I.C.U., 30 Bond Street, Toronto M5B 1W8 in Mr Connell's memory. Condolences and memories may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com.