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John Relton
August 17, 1931 - January 4, 2015
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<div itemprop="description">RELTON, DR. JOHN ERIC SPARKS, <br />M.B., F.R.C.A., (UK), F.R.C.P., (CAN) <br /> <br />August 17th, 1931-January 4th, 2015 <br /> <br /> <br />The family is deeply saddened by the passing of John Relton on Sunday, January 4th, 2015. Dr. John Relton had a distinguished career as a Senior Staff Anaesthesiologist at the Hospital for Sick Children Toronto and was an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto. <br /> <br />John is predeceased by his beloved wife of 52 years, Muriel (Simpson) August 4th 2009 and mourned by his son Timothy, his daughter Barbara (Bill Di Nardo), and his cherished grand-children, Riley, Jordan, Devyn and Morgan. <br /> <br />John will be sadly missed by his family in England; brother's Bill (Sheila), David (Mary), Peter (Sue) and their families. John is fondly remembered by Muriel&rsquo;s sister, Mabel and her family in New Zealand. <br /> <br />Born in Hartlepool, England, he was the second son of four boys to Laura Jane Sparks and Eric William Relton. He credited his success in life to his mother Laura who raised the boys after being widowed in 1942. John started his medical education at age 17 and was awarded the prestigious Chadwick Prize for Medicine when he graduated Westminster Medical School in 1954. He met Muriel at the Gordon Hospital where she worked as a nurse and they were wed on Sept. 21st 1957. <br /> <br />John received the rank of Squadron Leader while serving in the Royal Air Force. <br /> <br />In 1964 John joined the staff at The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto and retired in 1997. <br /> <br />John was known to friends and colleagues as a kind man with a keen sense of humour. John was a man of high expectations for himself and those around him. John was a humanitarian; he travelled the world with colleagues, providing life- saving and life improving medical procedures to those most in need. He is well known as the inventor of the Relton-Hall surgical frame which is still used in spinal surgery worldwide. He was, at heart, a teacher. <br /> <br />John was also an avid gardener, tending his beautiful rose garden at his beloved home in Hoggs Hollow for many years. In retirement, he enjoyed his time golfing at The Summit Golf Club and watching cricket at the Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club. As much as he loved Canada, he never forgot from where he came, a proud Englishman always. <br /> <br />He will be truly missed. <br /> <br />The funeral service will be held at Blessed Sacrament Church (Yonge St. south of Lawrence) on Saturday, January 24th at 11 am. A celebration of his life is scheduled for January 24th from 3:00-6:00 pm at the Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club (Wilson Ave., east of Avenue Rd.) <br /> <br />The family kindly requests no flowers; donations may be made in John&rsquo;s memory to the Alzheimer&rsquo;s society. <br /></div>