John has slipped away to ski and sail heaven. Left to cherish his life here on earth is Sharron, his devoted wife of 57 years and their glorious daughters Jocelyn (Daniel Guigue) and Shawndelle Pocha (the late Kerry Pocha). Born and raised in Ottawa, John was the son of the late Dr. Herbert and Anne Hanna (nee Connor). He was predeceased by his next older sister Marjory (Colin Campbell) and older brother Edward (Jean). He is survived by his older sister Isobel Gibson (Grant) and younger widowed sister Cathy Shatford. John will be fondly remembered by a coterie of exceptional Hanna, Gibson, Campbell and Hunter nieces, nephews, their spouses and offspring.
John spent his teenage winters as a ski racer and trail rider at Camp Fortune with his summers spent water skiing and sailing from the family’s Rocky Point cottage on the shores of the Ottawa River.
His passion for alpine skiing and racing blossomed into a successful career in the ski industry: one that took him to ski areas throughout Canada, the States, Europe, and down under to Australia as a Senior Certified Ski Instructor and Examiner with the Canadian Ski Instructor’s Alliance, and subsequently as a certified Technical Delegate with the Federation of International Skiing officiating FIS sanctioned races as the first Technical Director of Programs serving with Alpine Canada. A career highlight was earning a place on three of Canada’s Interski demonstration ski teaching teams. His legacy lies in the lives of those who learned to ski and race in the programs and operations he oversaw during his years as Ski School Director at Camp Fortune, Mont Ste-Marie and Carlington Park.
John’s lifelong love of sailing provided him with a retirement happily spent socializing with friends and family at the Nepean Sailing Club and serving for many a spring through fall season on the Nepean Sailing Club’s Harbour Committee.
In keeping with his wishes there will be no formal wake or visitation. A celebration of John’s life will be held Saturday, September 14th at the Nepean Sailing Club’s Harbour Front Room commencing at 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers a donation made in John’s memory to the Cancer Research Society or the Heart & Stroke Foundation would be welcome.
Digital Guestbook
Peter Maheux
Brent K
Back in the 90s, in the oddly wonderful and strange place that was Boots and Boards, John Hanna was the acknowledged and revered "expert of experts" . We were all a bunch of 20-something wanna-be hotshots...but we all knew who the Man really was. Such was the respect and calmness that the Hanna Man brought. I knew him only a short time, but I think I will never forget. Hope there is big powder and first tracks for him!
Barbara Dorrell
Sail on John ! I hope Robin was at the pearly gates to welcome you !
John was my mentor during my seasons as ski instructor at Camp fortune. He supported me in achieving my level 3 and later when I was ski school director at Calabogie Peaks and mount sacred, he came and ran certification courses for my instructors. I’ll never forget John. He made a difference in my life…RIP John