BRYON DONALD JOHNSON

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BRYON DONALD JOHNSON I hold it true, whateer befall; I feel it, when I sorrow most; Tis better to have loved and lost Than never to have loved at all. Alfred Lord Tennyson, In Memoriam Bryon Donald Johnson, beloved husband of Sylvia and cherished father of Alexandra, tragically and unexpectedly passed away at St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg, MB on March 16, 2003 due to unforeseen complications following what was otherwise successful and routine surgery. While 65 years of age is simply too young to go, Bryon lived a lot, and will be sorely missed by family and friends throughout North America, Britain and Europe. As the only son of a British Army Officer, he started life in Blackpool, England and by age three and a half attended boarding school and graced Britain with a most gifted singing voice from daily cathedral services and Queen Elizabeth IIs wedding and Coronation, to the 1951 film - A Christmas Carol. When his family moved to Rome, Italy, he furthered his singing as a member of the Vaticans Sistine Chapel Boys Choir. His stories were numerous and never grew old. Bryon loved life and adventure and as an adult travelled to Canada as an expert in the insurance field and as a professional singer. In 1962 love at first sight proved true when he met Sylvia, whom he married two and a half months later. Bryon and Sylvia travelled extensively together and in 1974 welcomed their only child Alexandra into their family, and shortly thereafter founded a new firm and service in the insurance industry as an independent consultant for the insured: Johnson-Mellor and Associates Ltd. And while he dedicated himself to his clients, golf, billiards (in which he had the most recent high run) and snooker (in which he was in the lead for the finals) were integral parts of his life, with true friends who have been nothing short of family in this time of need. Bryons life could not have been more complete. He lived for family and friends, loved his career, passionately served both Britain and Canada as a military officer, had the honour of receiving both the Coronation medal and his Queens Scout from Queen Elizabeth II, golfed at St. Charles Country Club through the summer and played snooker at the Manitoba Club through the winter. He always said what he thought and never minced words, and was surrounded by family and friends as he passed. He laughed. He loved. He lived. He is the measure of a man. "Quod incepimus conficiemus" Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 29 at 11:30 a.m. at St. Johns Cathedral, 135 Anderson Ave. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, 6 Donald St., Suite 200, Winnipeg, MB R3L 0K6 or the Canadian Red Cross Society, 500 - 240 Graham Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3C 0J7 THOMSON FUNERAL CHAPELS 783-7211

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 29, 2003