January 9, 1929 - August 12, 2023
In Loving Memory ~
John Trevor Hanrahan, son of Hugh Joseph Michael Hanrahan and Coral Mina Grant, was born on January 9, 1929, in Erode, India and passed away August 12, 2023 in Duncan BC at 94 years of age.
His siblings included Terence, Joy, Coral Margaret (Peggy), Hugh (Chippy) and Chloe.
After studying at Loyola College in Madras (now Chennai) in 1945-46, John moved to England in 1948. Despite a difficult start, he lived in London, England and appreciated all it had to offer.
It was in London where John met the love of his life, Patricia Burroughs, and they were married in Kensington, London on April 4, 1955. John and Pat lived in Ringstead Bay, Dorset before leaving England in September 1956 on board the Ascania - with son Matthew - for Canada.
The family settled in Toronto, Ontario where Nigel and Siobhan were born. John enjoyed working for the Treasury Department of the City of Toronto. The family made annual trips to Myrtle Beach, SC in the family camper to enjoy the wonderful surf and beach, learning a lot of Civil War history along the way.
Subsequently, in 1969, the family moved across Canada and settled in B.C., moving to Duncan in 1970. John later attended UVic and graduated with an English (Hon) degree and became an English teacher in 1975, his most cherished dream.
From early years, John had trouble with his eyesight - a childhood accident nearly blinded him in one eye - and he resolved to remember everything of significance, developing a remarkable memory that lasted all of his life.
John was named Head of the English Department at Mount Prevost in 1979 and taught in the Cowichan School District until 1995.
In 1983 the family moved to a new home on Arbutus Point in Maple Bay. It came to mean a great deal to John, with its idyllic view overlooking the ocean. He enjoyed sailing in the bay as a long-time member of Maple Bay Yacht Club.
Central to his life was his precious family, wife Patricia, children Matthew, Nigel, and Siobhan. Near the end of his teaching career, and after retirement, John and Pat, along with grandson Julian, travelled to England, France, Australia (twice), Mexico and Hawaii.
A great talker and a great listener. John was a character: cultivating an Irish-style wit, intelligent, erudite, iconoclastic, passionate, and great to be with and talk to. He was devoted to his children and proud of them all. He will be missed.