John Stirling Ridout, 76, a former member of the Anglican Foundation board and an active volunteer on many national Anglican committees, died of prostate cancer in Toronto on Feb. 21.
“He was a gentleman in the truest sense of the world. He was very involved with his church and the community, but wasn’t one to blow his own horn,” his daughter, Lynn Ridout, told The Mirror, a community newspaper in Toronto. An employee of Ontario Hydro for 37 years, Mr. Ridout held the title of manager of program planning and services.
He was keenly interested in the history of East York, the once-independent Toronto community where he lived, serving on the local public library board and the historical society. He served as an alderman in East York and was also chairman of the Metropolitan Toronto Library Board. He recently received the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in recognition of his community involvement.
With the Anglican church, he also served on the financial management investment sub-committee and was involved with the Anglican Houses seniors residence, Toronto’s Wycliffe College, the Anglican Young People’s Association and the Anglican Council of North America and the Caribbean.
He is survived by his wife, Joan Patricia, four children and nine grandchildren.