Born James Raymond Cranstoun to Vivian Cranstoun and James Alty, two people in love who were kept apart. Adopted by Nellie and Clarence Lightfoot who renamed him.

Growing up on Forman Avenue, he was joined by his siblings, Bobby and Julie. A gifted athlete, he excelled at pitching in the Leaside Baseball organization as well as puck with Leaside Hockey. In his school and sport endeavours, he would meet friends for life: Kenny Lawrence (Judy) and Colin "Tiger" Fraser (Barb).

At 14, he was left devastated after the death of his father. Searching for his place in the world, he joined the Navy, underage. He made his way to Perth, Ontario, where he met the love of his life, Bonnie Kent. They were married in January 1960 and had six children together.

Continuing his love of sports, he devoted much of his time to coaching hockey at Leaside and on the Directors Board at The Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL). Aka "Johnny," "Coach," "Big John," or "Fred Flintstone," he was well-known and respected by his players. He always made time to take Bonnie to his kids games and tournaments whether it was hockey, baseball, soccer or bowling. As a father and coach, he always pushed his kids and players to do better than we all thought we could.

Through the years came grandkids who he was exceptionally proud of. He continued to bring Bonnie to their games and events, bragging to anyone who would listen (including his friends "The Chief," George Armstrong and Walter Gretzky). He was overjoyed in midlife to meet and spend time with his biological half-brother, Clayton Alty, as he was the only connection to his biological dad. Always a fighter - doctors called him a tank. He survived Legionnaires Disease, a heart attack, two strokes, kidney cancer, sepsis and Covid. He suffered heartbreak after the loss of his son, Robert, in 1966; granddaughter, Melissa in 2010; and his daughter, Tracy in 2015. His health declined in the autumn and he passed surrounded by his family and into the arms of his parents, Robert, Tracy, Melissa and finally - he got to meet his biological dad.

Survived by wife of 64 years, Bonnie; children, Laurie (Jason), Tammy, Chris (Iva), and Mark (Joann); his grandchildren, Erin (Olivier), Ryan (Nicole), Aislynn (Graeme), Tyler (Anna), Jessica, Dillon (Lizzie), Yelena, Jaclyn, Alexander, and Andrew; and six great-grandchildren.

We love and miss you dad. We will see you again one day.

Funeral to take place Monday, March 18, 2024, at Mt. Pleasant Funeral Center, 375 Mt. Pleasant Rd. Viewing 2-4 p.m., Funeral 4 p.m. and Reception 5-7 p.m. All are welcome.

Donations in his memory can be made to the Humane Society, the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Alzheimer Society.