John Joseph Patrick "Pat" Redmond

John Joseph Patrick "Pat" Redmond, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather,
and friend, passed away peacefully on June 19, 2026, at the age of 97.

Born on March 10, 1929, to Robert and Louise (née Bergeron) Redmond, Pat was raised in Verdun, Quebec. A gifted athlete in his youth, he excelled in baseball and basketball and maintained a lifelong love of swimming, enjoying the activity well into his nineties. One of five children, Pat is survived by his sister Rita and brother Joe, both of Burlington, Ontario. He was predeceased by his sister Margaret and brother Gerry.

The great love of Pat's life was his cherished wife, Barbara. He first noticed her at church and later found an opportunity to meet her while collecting donations for Catholic Charities. They were married at St. Willibrord's Church in 1954 and shared 69 wonderful years together before Barbara's passing in 2023. Her loss was deeply felt, and Pat missed her every day.

At the heart of Pat's life were his Catholic faith and his family. Together, Pat and Barbara were blessed with eight children: John (Louise), Peter (Elisa), Mark (Jacqui), Paul (Ella), Patrick (Heather), Robert (Denise), Ann-Marie (Tamsin), and Valerie (Richard).

He was a proud grandfather to thirteen grandchildren: Jackie, Robin, Richard, Mitchell, Tara, Chelsea, Spencer, Jackson, Curtis, Ilish, Emma, Harrison, and Jude. His legacy continues through his twelve great-grandchildren: Hunter, Grace, Dylan, Logan, Brooke, Avery, Quinn, Dawson, Jacob, Rebel, Rowan, and Cillian.

Pat enjoyed a distinguished career in the insurance brokerage industry, spending most of his professional life with Lukis, Stewart, Price, Forbes. Beginning in Montreal, he quickly rose through the ranks and, at the age of 38, was appointed to the company's Board of Directors in 1967.

Widely respected for his sound judgment and unwavering integrity, Pat was instrumental in expanding the firm's national footprint. He led and negotiated the acquisition of several regional brokerages, growing the company from two to ten offices across Canada. In addition, he oversaw the management of the Western and Central Canada regions, helping to drive the firm's national growth and success.

When the Board moved the head office from Montreal to Toronto, Pat’s role as head of the Toronto office required that he relocate. Rather than uproot his family, he chose to commute, flying to Toronto each Monday morning and returning home every Friday afternoon. After five years, despite being offered the opportunity to become Chief Executive Officer, recognizing that the role would take him away from his and Barbara’s family life purpose, Pat chose early retirement. Years later, Peter and Robert, who followed their father into the insurance industry, would often hear fellow brokers describe their Dad as a man of exceptional integrity and the best boss they had ever worked for.

Pat and Barbara built a rich and adventurous life together while raising their family. They first settled in Pointe-Claire, Quebec, and spent summers at their cottage in Willsboro, NY. As their older sons reached their teenage years, they embraced a new challenge by purchasing a 100-acre hobby farm in Dalkeith, Ontario. Weekends and summers were spent there, with the children baling hay, driving tractors, milking cows, and learning the value of hard work alongside local farmers.

As several of their sons developed a passion for farming, and amid growing uncertainty in Quebec during the 1970s, Pat and Barbara moved their family across the provincial border to an operating dairy farm near Vankleek Hill, Ontario. A new chapter was laid, and two sons, Paul and Patrick, would go on to farm there for more than forty years. During these years, Pat commuted by train from Rigaud to downtown Montreal for work.

Following his retirement, he and Barbara continued to enjoy summer life on the farm before purchasing a winter home near Sarasota, Florida, where they spent twenty-five happy winters. In 2007, they moved into the town of Vankleek Hill, and in 2016, at Barbara's encouragement and at the age of 86, Pat relocated to Cobourg, Ontario. There, alongside Barbara and their son Patrick, he found a warm welcome in the New Amherst community. New friendships quickly developed through shared interests in golf, cribbage, and good company. Robert and Denise, who lived only a few houses away, remain especially grateful to the many New Amherst neighbors who embraced Pat, Barbara, and Patrick with such kindness and friendship.

With many of their children living in the Greater Toronto Area, Pat and Barbara treasured frequent family visits and especially enjoyed summers at the nearby cottages of Peter, Mark, and Ann-Marie.

Above all, Pat will be remembered as a man of deep faith, humility, generosity, and profound devotion to his family. He led not through words but through example, demonstrating throughout his life the true values of hard work and love. His influence will continue to be felt for generations through the family he and Barbara rooted and cherished.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on June 26th at 10am at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Cobourg, Ontario followed by interment at St. Michael's Cemetery. A reception will be held at the Columbus Community Centre at noon.

The family extends its heartfelt gratitude to the staff and physicians of Northumberland Hills Hospital and Extendicare Port Hope, especially Dr. Haunts, who cared for Pat throughout his years in Cobourg. Special thanks are also extended to his many caregivers at Extendicare and his private caregiver, Carol, whose compassion, understanding, and dedication helped make Pat's final year, as he faced dementia, more comfortable and navigable for both him and his family.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Pat's memory may be made to Northumberland Hills Hospital or the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Both organizations held special meaning for Pat, and
contributions in his honour would be sincerely appreciated.