In Celebration of
Jack Harry Berryman
September 19, 1936 - April 19, 2023
Surrounded by love, Jack passed away peacefully at St. Joseph’s Health Centre in Toronto in his 87th year, after a courageous battle with lymphoma. Beloved and devoted husband to his sweetheart and late wife of 62 years, Ellen Doreen Berryman (nee Sanderson). Adored and loving father of Elizabeth (Paul), Dianne (Murray), Paul (Kelly), Mark (Dawn) and Denise (Michael). Proud Grandpa to Elise (Michael), Madeleine (Quintin), Sean, Liam, Olivia, Jameson, and Easton and doting Great Grandpa to Wesley and Clementine.
Jack was born and raised in the idyllic village of Elora, Ontario and was the only child of parents Elsie Jean Reeves and Harry Rudge Berryman, and was fiercely proud and sentimental of where and how he grew up. He was an athlete, playing hockey, baseball, lacrosse and curling. He also played drums for the Fergus Brass Band. Elora is also where he met the love of his life, and they spent many an evening dancing at the Legion Hall and at the West Montrose Kissing Bridge.
Jack went on to graduate from Fergus High School, graduated from Teachers’ College in 1959, and moved to Toronto as a lifelong educator. With miraculous fortitude, he earned all of his degrees at the University of Toronto, culminating with his Doctorate of Education in 1986, largely garnered from night school and summer studies. He was a champion of those new to Canada and was an early proponent of diversity and inclusion, pioneering the Heritage Language Program at the TDSB, which was the subject of his doctoral thesis. Although, he would say he never worked a day in his life, he had a storied career with the TDSB, followed by tenures as Vice Principal and Principal at various schools in Toronto, including Givens, Palmerston and Osler Public Schools, and as an Education Officer. In the 1980’s, Jack took on a position in the Ontario Ministry of Education Legislative Branch. Well into his retirement years, Jack’s passion as an educator continued as a session professor at Brock University in the Faculty of Education program.
Jack was a proud Canadian, long time icon and fixture of the Humber Valley Village community for over 50 years. He had a keen interest in history, family genealogy, sports and music. The neighbours looked forward to Dad’s daily walks, sporting his team colours (Blue Jays or Canadians depending on the season), and his warm wave and bit of a chat before he continued on his way. He was a member of the Mayflower Society, as well as a United Empire Loyalist, having traced and documented his lineage. Jack documented much of his life in verse and words on paper, and was a ravenous reader, and writer of poetry and prose. His collection of poetry, ‘The Life and Times of an Elora Boy’, resides at the Wellington Country Library.
Jack was a man of faith and hope. He was a lifetime Elder and legend at Humber Valley United Church and gladly supported his church community and the world at large through his generous philanthropy. Jack was and always will be our family’s beacon of light and strong leader. He and Mom never missed a sporting event, school concert, graduation or milestone, and always encouraged us to follow our dreams. He believed in the importance of family, traditions and get-togethers. He led us with kindness, warmth, an unequalled love of life and a twinkle in his eye that, even as adults, brought us comfort. He was truly the definition of what a fine and gentle man is. We will forever strive to make him proud and he will be terribly missed.
The family would like to thank dad’s caregiver, Joriza Apuada and the P.S.W. team at C.B.I., Dr. Allen Zee, and Dr. John Blondal and his team of dedicated Doctors, Nurses and staff at St Joseph’s Health Centre. Unending thanks to neighbours Bob and Anne Shiley for their support and prayers. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jack’s name to the Canadian Cancer Society.
A Celebration of Jack’s wonderful life will be held on Thursday, April 27th, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at Humber Valley United Church, 76 Anglesey Blvd, Etobicoke, ON. The family will receive well-wishers at the church in Arthur Steed Hall from 12:30-2:00 p.m., preceding the service. Cremation has already taken place and interment will take place at Belsyde Cemetery in Fergus at a later date. The service will be livestreamed, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwb82ZAObeY
That man is a success
who has lived well,
laughed often and loved much;
who has gained the respect of intelligent men and women
and the love of children;
who has filled his niche and accomplished his task;
who leaves the world better than he found it,
who has never lacked appreciation of Earth’s beauty
or failed to express it;
who looked for the best in others, and gave the best he had.
Robert Louis Stevenson
Jack was born and raised in the idyllic village of Elora, Ontario and was the only child of parents Elsie Jean Reeves and Harry Rudge Berryman, and was fiercely proud and sentimental of where and how he grew up. He was an athlete, playing hockey, baseball, lacrosse and curling. He also played drums for the Fergus Brass Band. Elora is also where he met the love of his life, and they spent many an evening dancing at the Legion Hall and at the West Montrose Kissing Bridge.
Jack went on to graduate from Fergus High School, graduated from Teachers’ College in 1959, and moved to Toronto as a lifelong educator. With miraculous fortitude, he earned all of his degrees at the University of Toronto, culminating with his Doctorate of Education in 1986, largely garnered from night school and summer studies. He was a champion of those new to Canada and was an early proponent of diversity and inclusion, pioneering the Heritage Language Program at the TDSB, which was the subject of his doctoral thesis. Although, he would say he never worked a day in his life, he had a storied career with the TDSB, followed by tenures as Vice Principal and Principal at various schools in Toronto, including Givens, Palmerston and Osler Public Schools, and as an Education Officer. In the 1980’s, Jack took on a position in the Ontario Ministry of Education Legislative Branch. Well into his retirement years, Jack’s passion as an educator continued as a session professor at Brock University in the Faculty of Education program.
Jack was a proud Canadian, long time icon and fixture of the Humber Valley Village community for over 50 years. He had a keen interest in history, family genealogy, sports and music. The neighbours looked forward to Dad’s daily walks, sporting his team colours (Blue Jays or Canadians depending on the season), and his warm wave and bit of a chat before he continued on his way. He was a member of the Mayflower Society, as well as a United Empire Loyalist, having traced and documented his lineage. Jack documented much of his life in verse and words on paper, and was a ravenous reader, and writer of poetry and prose. His collection of poetry, ‘The Life and Times of an Elora Boy’, resides at the Wellington Country Library.
Jack was a man of faith and hope. He was a lifetime Elder and legend at Humber Valley United Church and gladly supported his church community and the world at large through his generous philanthropy. Jack was and always will be our family’s beacon of light and strong leader. He and Mom never missed a sporting event, school concert, graduation or milestone, and always encouraged us to follow our dreams. He believed in the importance of family, traditions and get-togethers. He led us with kindness, warmth, an unequalled love of life and a twinkle in his eye that, even as adults, brought us comfort. He was truly the definition of what a fine and gentle man is. We will forever strive to make him proud and he will be terribly missed.
The family would like to thank dad’s caregiver, Joriza Apuada and the P.S.W. team at C.B.I., Dr. Allen Zee, and Dr. John Blondal and his team of dedicated Doctors, Nurses and staff at St Joseph’s Health Centre. Unending thanks to neighbours Bob and Anne Shiley for their support and prayers. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jack’s name to the Canadian Cancer Society.
A Celebration of Jack’s wonderful life will be held on Thursday, April 27th, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at Humber Valley United Church, 76 Anglesey Blvd, Etobicoke, ON. The family will receive well-wishers at the church in Arthur Steed Hall from 12:30-2:00 p.m., preceding the service. Cremation has already taken place and interment will take place at Belsyde Cemetery in Fergus at a later date. The service will be livestreamed, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwb82ZAObeY
That man is a success
who has lived well,
laughed often and loved much;
who has gained the respect of intelligent men and women
and the love of children;
who has filled his niche and accomplished his task;
who leaves the world better than he found it,
who has never lacked appreciation of Earth’s beauty
or failed to express it;
who looked for the best in others, and gave the best he had.
Robert Louis Stevenson
Funeral Details
Show location:
Interment
Belsyde Cemetery
400 Thistle St, Fergus, Fergus, ON, N1M 1V9
Get Directions
Date and time to be determined.
Info: Interment will take place at Belsyde Cemetery in Fergus at a later date.
Celebration of Life
Humber Valley United Church
76 Anglesey Blvd., Toronto, ON, M9A 3C1
Get Directions
Thursday, 27 Apr 2023 2:00 PM
Info: The family will receive well-wishers at the church in Arthur Steed Hall from 12:30-2:00 p.m., preceding the service.