It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Past District Governor and Past Rotary International Director, John Eberhard, 1945-2024.John served as governor in 1993-94 and Director of Zone 24 (now Zone 28) from 2001 to 2003. Throughout his life of service not only to Rotary but to his community and country he conducted himself with honor, dignity and humility. All fellow Rotarians who had the privilege of serving with him will miss his warmth, humor and commitment.
As a testimony to his extensive and amazing life of service, please read his bio which follows.
John Janes Eberhard, PDG, PRID
1945 - 2024
John Eberhard of London/Middlesex passed away peacefully at London Health Sciences Centre on November 25 in his 80th year. John leaves his beloved spouse of 45 years, his much-accomplished best friend, Frances Ann (Wigston) Eberhard.
John is the son of the late Helen Pauline (Janes) Eberhard (2006) and R.S. (Rudy) Eberhard (1988). Predeceased by grand-parents, Rev. Joseph, and Pauline Janes (Mowat) of London and Beatrice (Steele) and Charles Eberhard of London. Devoted and caring father of Robert John Jade Eberhard (Carol) and grandchildren, Jade and Sage; and, Kelly Margaret Elizabeth (Eberhard) Rahiri (Malcolm) and grandchildren Elyse, Emmett and Regen.
Brother of Dr. Rudolf Stuart Mowat Eberhard (Jeannette) of London, Elizabeth Jane Eberhard, The Hon. Margaret (Peggy) Eberhard (best friend to Tom Bryson; former spouse of the late Dr. Brian McGugan of Orillia). Also survived by many nieces and nephews and former spouse and friend, Judith Ann Henderson.
Visitation will be offered from 3:00-7:00pm on December 4 at Harris Funeral Home, 220 St. James Street, London, Ontario. A celebration of life will be held at First St. Andrews United Church, 350 Queens Avenue, London on December 5 at 1:00 PM with Paster Joshua Lawrence and Minster Emeritus Dr. David McKane and Organist emeritus Paul Merit officiating. In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made to the Rotary Club of London Foundation and/or First St. Andrews United Church Music Scholarship Trust.
John attended Ryerson Public School and Central Secondary in London; University of Western Ontario, for his undergraduate B.A. and Western Law and University of British Columbia for his LL.B. He was called to the Ontario Bar in 1971 following graduation from Osgoode Hall. In 2017 the Board of Governors of Assumption University honoured him with an Doctor of Laws degree (LL. D - honoris causa).
John achieved what so many of us aspire to….. making a difference, doing the right thing, building goodwill and friendships, in the best interests of all concerned. John was recognized as a Rotarian, locally and internationally. He was described as a “Social Entrepreneur”, someone who finds innovative solutions to society’s most pressing social problems. He was a “change-agent”.
As a third-year law student at UWO, he created and coordinated Western’s (UWO) “Student Defenders System”. This program continues today at Western and is known today as “Community Legal Services” (CLS) which provides free legal advice and representation to members of the community. He initiated a youth group at his church and was the architect of the FSA Council system of governance at his church.
A long interest in recreational canoeing, he went from province to province organizing provincial canoeing organizations to shelter under the Federation which he incorporated called the Canadian Recreational Canoeing Associating (now “Paddle Canada”) focusing on canoe safety and instructor certification – He was the Chairman of Canoe Canada and representative of the Americas to the International Canoe Federation where he served for many years.
He was known as a visionary in Rotary International. He was President of the Rotary Club of London (1975/6); District Governor; and Director of Rotary International (2003-05). In 2001, he introduced a constitutional change to Rotary’s Parliament. The result: a new meeting venue of internet based “E-Clubs”. As a member of the international board, John introduced a new program called: “Rotary Action Groups” that take humanitarian aid and development programs worldwide to achieve health advances to those who most desperately need them. John was founding chair of the Disaster Relief Rotarian Action Group. He was recognized by the Rotary Foundation with its most prestigious awards: The Citation for Meritorious Service and the Distinguished Service Award. John and Fran both participated in Polio National Immunization Days in India and Africa. He was awarded the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal for community service.
John practiced law for 30 years. He started as a full time Asst. Crown Attorney before going into private practice where he continued part-time prosecuting work with various Federal and Provincial Ministries. He retired in 2020 as a judge on the Social Security Tribunal. As a specialist in administrative law, he also served on the Civil Aviation Tribunal for 10 years. John was president of a private sector corporation (Virtual Professionals Inc.) in a collaboration with two professional friends, Dr. Robbie Campbell and Norman Peel QC, which established a broad-ban-based systems across Ontario for telepsychiatry which is now an integral part of the health delivery system supported by the Provincial government.
John grew up at First-St. Andrews United church. He headed a youth group in the 1970’s. He led his church through a transition from an “official board” system of governance to a “Council System” in the 1980s – one of the very early churches within the United Church of Canada to do so. He was Chairman of Official Board, and most recently, co-chair of the Board of Trustees.
He provided public service as founder of many organizations including: Western Day Care Centre, Forest City Gymnastics Club, London Canoe Club, Canoe Ontario, Canoe Canada and Campgrounds Canada. He served on the board of many charitable and not –for-profit organizations: London International Airport Authority, Westminster College, Easter Seal Society, P.C. Party of Canada, and Jaycees. He was designated as the “Outstanding Young Londoner” by the Jaycees. As a private pilot, he was active on the board of the London Flying Club. He was the Executive Director of the Canadian Rotary Collaboration for International Development (2000 – 2012). Director and Past President: University of Western Ontario Alumni Association. Chairman of Woodeden Easter Seal Camp for physically disabled children for 17 years. He was founder of the Hyde Park BIA.
John was interested and involved with politics. He was P.C. candidate in the Provincial riding of London South in 1975. Awards included Outstanding D.U. Alumni Award Recipient (1984), United Nations: Year of the Volunteer Award; Province of Ontario, 25-year Volunteer recipient Honourary Advisory Committee - “We Want to Help” - Mothers and Children of Afghanistan and, the Queen’s Jubilee Medal.
As a cherished patriarch, he honoured the individuality of each of his children and grandchildren, giving them both support and freedom to develop their independence. He loved discussing current events, politics, history, law and books with family and teaching the nuances of canoe strokes to his grandchildren. He could be found enthusiastically applauding at sporting events at which his children were involved. He and Fran frequently attended basketball, volleyball and football games at Western. They took their family on road trips, cruises and many visits to their Algarve holiday home. It was from this location that John and Fran put on thousands of kilometers throughout Europe on their BMW motorcycle. But special, were camping and canoe trips around their beloved northern cottage where their family found its spiritual home on Lake Temagami.
John’s remains have been cremated with ashes to be sprinkled at their grave site in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery and in Temagami. Appreciation is expressed for the compassionate care provided by LHSC physicians, Doctors Fortin and Breadner and their teams and staff.