Lt John Elgin Reesor, MC, PhD

We regret to advise of the death of Lieutenant John Elgin Reesor, MC, PhD surrounded by his family on 3 March 2006 at the Ottawa Heart Institute.
John was born in Saskatoon where his father was an insurance salesman. The family moved to Michigan in the early 1920s but later returned to Canada and settled in Pouce Coupe, British Columbia in 1931. John’s brothers and sister were born while the family was living in Lapeer, Michigan.
John was a Royal Canadian Engineer veteran of the Second World War. While serving with the 4^th Field Company in Italy, John was awarded the Military Cross for his bravery during a river crossing operation in northern Italy in December 1944. After the war, John reunited with his family who at this time was living in North Vancouver BC. He entered the University of British Columbia and graduated with a degree in Geological Engineering in 1949. He then received a PhD from Princeton University and moved to Ottawa in 1952 where he joined the Geological Survey of Canada. 
John conducted extensive surveys in the mountains of BC before becoming Chief of the Regional and Economic Geology Division in Ottawa.  From there he led teams to the Arctic to create some of the first topographical maps of the area. He was judged to be an excellent scientist and administrator and was universally admired and liked by his colleagues. He published many many books over his career.  
Memorial visitation will be held at the Westboro Chapel of Tubman Funeral Homes in Ottawa on 9 March from 1 to 3 PM. A service in celebration of John's life will follow in the chapel at 3:00 PM. Memorial donations may be made to the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.

Note: John’s brother P/O Robert Dunham Reesor, was a Spitfire pilot in 401 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force. He was killed in 1942 at 19 years of age.