John Nilson

JOHN ANTHONY NILSON

Passed away at the age of 86 at Extendicare Medex on March 17. Loving husband of Lenore for 63 years. Dear father of Peter Nilson (Sarah) and Erica Sutherland, grandpa to Solstice Sutherland and uncle to many nieces and nephews in British Columbia, Manitoba, and Ontario.

John was born in Regina and graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a B.Sc. in Engineering Physics. After obtaining a M.Sc. while studying the aurora borealis, he obtained an Athlone fellowship to study in the UK. Here, under the guidance of Nobel winning scientist Dennis Gabor, he received his Ph.D. in electron physics. He returned to Canada where he spent 6 years in Montreal at RCA Victor Research Labs, before moving to Ottawa and joining the start-up company Lumonics. He was instrumental in the company’s development and he spent many exciting years there before forming his own consulting company.

John’s love of music led him to be proficient enough to play the cello in orchestras in Saskatchewan, London, England and Montreal. He loved to be active - windsurfing, canoeing, cross country skiing, skating on the canal, cycling on his road bike, his mountain bike or the unicycle, trekking up mountains or just hiking in the woods. And his curiosity for life included travel to most corners of the world. The family wishes to thank the staff of Medex for the kind care they gave John during the five months he lived there.

Donations in memory of John may be made to the Alzheimer’s Society or a charity of your choice. A celebration of John’s life will be held on Sunday, April 2nd, 2023 at 2 pm at the Garden Chapel of Tubman Funeral Homes, 3440 Richmond Road, Ottawa, Ontario.