JOHN MCAMMOND

Condolences & Memories (9 entries)

• I was also an old comrade of John’s in Winnipeg and Toronto. John was a fine man to share a bottle or a smoke with. He was a born raconteur with a good brain and ready wit. His frank criticism had no poisonous edge. Miss you. - Posted by: Michael Block (Old friend) on: Dec 17, 2024

• I knew John when we were both young revolutionaries working for the socialist future. I'll miss you comrade. - Posted by: Mike Carmody aka Joe Snake (friend ) on: Dec 05, 2024

• I met John in 1975 after he moved to Toronto with his girlfriend Paula M from Winnipeg to participate in a left-wing group we were starting along with his friends Murray Smith and Naoli C. John was a great comrade--optimistic, informed and amusing. In the late 1970s he had a job running the photocopy machine at Trinity College at U of Toronto while I worked in the library down the street. We often had lunch together in those days and had lots of fun. Over time we drifted apart. The last time I saw him was in Toronto in 1999 when he was coming through on his way to Ottawa to argue a case before the Supreme Court. I had a minor case pending at the time and John gave me good advice on how to manage my lawyer. After that we were only in touch via email--recalling how we got into leftist politics as teenagers in high school and various personalities we knew during our years together in the organized left in Toronto. I will miss him. - Posted by: Thomas Reid (old comrade) on: Dec 05, 2024

• Mr. McAmmond was a fabulous lawyer. I used to watch him from afar at Court- Even when he was so sick, he was so kindly dedicated to the Underdog. - Posted by: Robin Zeiss (colleague) on: Dec 05, 2024

• I only just learned today of John's death. I'd spoken to John a few times over the past couple years, and it was on my mind to call him again and see how he was doing. And now he is gone. A couple things from our conversations: he was truly a happy man. He absolutely adored his wife. It was a beautiful thing to hear him speak of her and of their marriage. He was a loving and proud father and grandfather. In his heart and mind, he continued to hold close the perspective of a socialist future, free of all exploitation and oppression. We were all very young when we met. In my mind's eye, I can still see him in the full beauty of youth, with his crown of golden curls. I will miss him. Much love to his family. - Posted by: Naoli Bray (friend) on: Dec 01, 2024

• I first met John thru Boy Scouts circa 1966 with our mutual friend, late Kevin Sheard at the former East Elmwood Presbyterian Church. We practised rope knots and 'securely' tied John to a chair. I remember his engaging personality, intellect and conviction for a democratic socialism. I was part of the Elmwood (High School) Soviet along with our comrades at Garden City and Jefferson HS. We were inspired by the 1960-70s student radicalism. We protested against the Vietnam war, staged student walk-outs, published an underground newspaper and endless conversations. We shared the same political idealism that remains to this day. He was very repectful and kind to me. John will be sorely missed by his family and comrades. - Posted by: Ryan Takatsu (Friend ) on: Dec 01, 2024

• "And death shall have no dominion." I don't know if these lines of the poet (Dylan Thomas) are always true, but l do know they were and are true of John, for like no-one else l have ever known he was the incarnation of the life force. It is an honour, a privilege and a joy to have known him. Rest in power, beloved friend. - Posted by: Paul Peters (Friend) on: Nov 30, 2024

• I remember John very fondly from the time he spent in Toronto in the 1970s when we were both members of the Trotsyist League. He was an intelligent and amusing fellow who had his own take on things. Life took us in different directions but we continued to share the same basic socialist values that had originally brought us together. I am sorry that I will not get the opportunity to reconnect. The world would be a lot better place with more people like John. My condolences to his family and friends. - Posted by: Catherine Neems (Friend) on: Nov 28, 2024

• I was a close friend of John's for over fifty years, having first met him in the fall of 1969 at Vietnam-era anti-war protests. He was part of a group of Elmwood high-school students who were deeply affected by the new-left social movements of the late 1960s and 1970s and who, like me, embraced an egalitarian-socialist worldview. Throughout the 1970s and beyond, we fought together against imperialist war, racism, women's oppression, class exploitation and all the depredations wrought by capitalism. Later we sought career paths that would allow us to continue our struggles in new ways, but we never turned away from the socialist values that we had adopted in our youth. John was intellectually honest, principled to a fault, a generous friend and a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. His was a life well lived! - Posted by: MURRAY SMITH (FRIEND ) on: Nov 24, 2024