John Philip McMahon passed away peacefully at home, aged 87, surrounded by his loving family on Friday, September 30, 2016. Beloved husband of 59 years to Joy and loving father of Stephen (Debi), Jacqui Rivers (Dale), and Celia Moffat (Lang). Beloved grandfather of Victoria and Christopher McMahon, Samantha Paul (Ryan), Michelle, Taylor, and Aimee Rivers, and TJ, Nikki, and William Moffat. Survived by his brother, Richard McMahon (Christine).
Philip was born January 12, 1929 in Sutton Coldfield, England and married Joy (née Bates) on October 28, 1957. He and Joy crossed the Atlantic on the Empress of England with their three young children in April 1968. They made their long-time home in Oakville, Ontario in 1973.
Philip was a true entrepreneur, an electrical engineer who founded Melting Furnace Services/MFS Systems, through which he developed and patented revolutionary recycling equipment for the aluminum industry. This equipment was sold worldwide, which allowed him to travel extensively.
While living in England, in his youth Philip enjoyed cycling throughout the UK with the Birmingham Olympic Road Club, mountain climbing, and sailing, all with his life-long friend Hugh O'Neill. Once in Canada, he taught his children to ski and later carried on his passion for climbing with his grandchildren in Vermont. He was an incredibly supportive father and grandfather, between hockey games, ski races, equestrian competitions, and family music nights. His unwavering support for Cec's passion for horses, paved the way for his granddaughters to enjoy the magic of the sport with their parents. He loved time with each of Stephen, Jacqui, Cec and their respective families at their cottages, where he spoiled them with his barbequing and culinary skills. He will always be remembered for his amazing Caesar salad, gourmet hamburgers, soups and special pâté. He loved the symphony and theatre and was a voracious reader. He especially delighted in being at the opera with Joy. They had a love for each other that was to be envied by all!
The family gratefully thanks the exceptional health care provided by Dr. Stern, the kindness and compassion of the personal support workers from Carepartners, the nurses from Acclaim Health, and dear Carmela Espiritu, all of whom enabled him to spend the last eighteen months of his life in his own home, as he so wished, surrounded by caring people.
"Good-night, sweet prince, And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!"
Family and friends are welcomed for visitation on Thursday, October 6th from 2 p.m.to 4 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Kopriva Taylor Funeral Home, 64 Lakeshore Road West, Oakville, Ontario. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, October 7, 2016 at St. Andrew Roman Catholic Church, 47 Reynolds Street, Oakville, at 1:00 p.m. with a reception to follow.
Those wishing to acknowledge Philip's life may do so with contributions to Ian Anderson House http://www.ianandersonhouse.com/ or ErinoakKids http://www.erinoakkids.ca/ .