September 17, 1932 – February 12, 2020
Our family has lost a loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend. Peter passed away peacefully in the comfort of his home in Dundas, Ontario. Beloved husband of Loretta (Powers) Johnson. Peter is remembered with love by his children Deirdre Johnson, Sharon (Gary) Strickland, Neil (Peggy) Johnson and Tim Johnson, grandchildren Lisa-Jane (Felix), Jennifer (Brent), Shaun (Hayley), Kayleigh (Brian), Ally, Michelle(Travis), Riley, Pierce and Hunter and great-grandchildren Aria, Mila, Malcolm, Simone and Scotlyn. Cherished son of the late Margaret and John Johnson of Montreal. Dear brother of the late William Johnson and his wife Linda, and brother-in-law to Ruth Anne and Bob MacFarlane. Loving uncle to Catherine (Chris), Marylynn (Murray), Rob (Sherry), Douglas (Lorraine), Fiona (Kevin), Alan (Brenda) and their children. Predeceased by wife Rosemary (Richardson) Johnson (2000). Peter began an illustrious career with Price Waterhouse in Montreal, retiring as a Senior Partner in Hamilton in 1995 to pursue a life rich in many activities including golfing, skiing and the culinary arts. Peter enjoyed spending much of his time with his Hamilton Golf & Country Club friends and associates, and shared many great ski memories in the Baie-Saint-Paul area and Eastern Townships. Many thanks to the caring doctors and nurses at the Juravinski Cancer Centre and the palliative care team from Alert Best Nursing & Home Care who helped support Peter’s desire to remain in the comfort of his own home. Friends and family are invited to Turner Family Funeral Home, 53 Main St., Dundas, on Monday from 2 – 5p.m. for a visitation. A Funeral Mass will take place at St. Augustine’s Church, 58 Sydenham St., Dundas on Tuesday at 11:00a.m. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Hamilton Cancer Assistance Program, 555 Concession Street, Hamilton, ON L8V 1A8, 905-383-9797 Charitable Registration # 14026 2759 RR0001.
Peter was a very great guy! I have known Peter for many years and mostly through both of us enjoying the game of golf. In the early days of our youth, he and I and would form three foursomes playing many of the fine courses about Ontario and the US. Peter was always cooperative and fair when called upon to distribute money winners. As at times the stakes were high he used his Accounting experience most fairly in this regard. He was a fantastic golfing partner making many birdies when needed. He was always just as particular addressing golf rules making some casual piercing retorts in this regard when he thought it necessary.
When we shared a Cart his initial remarks were” Stanley I do not have extensive Insurance, please do not drive with such abandon”… I think he reminded me of his concern at least 25 times during our play last year. His reminders obviously were well taken. Yes, I was somewhat careless!
Peter was a very superb golfer. His swing was a delight–sweet, smooth and easy-going as the man himself. I am sure that he enjoyed his many years as a member of his prestigious Montreal course.
Some years ago Peter, Gord Sharp and I played the Championship tees at Hamilton golf. The three of us broke 90 in medal play. On many Mondays, Larry Clark would join us for nine holes and made remarks that we must also attempt to enjoy the sport as well. I think that Gord took this to heart as he would remind Peter and me that golf was JUST A GAME. At the end of last season, we all wondered if we could match that score in 2020. Alas, this will not be!
I will miss Peter, his humor and his personal choices at times. Lunch-time demonstrated one of his many choices. When choosing a sandwich he would ask that the crust of the bread be removed from the whole wheat bread— every time! I never knew why and never asked– his teeth looked great so what could it have been? Now I will never know— when we meet again I will make it a point to ask him about his choice of a lightly toasted, debrided crust sandwich.
Till we meet again Peter. I will always think of you at Lunchtime. Stanley Holick.
To the Johnson family,
Sarah and I wish to express our condolences to you family.
Peter was perhaps my most important mentor at Price Waterhouse for many years.
He was in charge of the SSD division (Special Services Division), which offered audit, tax and specialized consulting services for privately controlled companies. I was in that group for many years – until I became an audit partner in 1987.
For many years, Peter would take me off whatever job I was on and put me on restructurings, privatizations, messy audits, valuations, M&A mandates, etc. Even though I had no experience in these areas, he pretty much let me and other members of the team do what we thought was best, while convincing client executives that I and other members of the team actually knew what we were doing. Price Waterhouse had no standards or methodology on any of these things at the time – so we just used our heads to do what made sense for clients. Peter always inspired us to go further and test our and the firm’s limits.
In those days, all our spreadsheets were manually prepared, taping 11″ x 14″ shets together and prepared using rudimentary calculators. I remember one spreadsheet that was at least 5 feet across. This was to support an acquisition by Canadian Arsenals (now SNC Defence), one of Peter’s most challenging clients, of a military site in the Eastern Townships (Space Research Corporation) and a new weapons manufacturing facility in St-Augustin. The first part of the deal collapsed; the second part was successful in no small part due to Peter’s tenacity in putting together this business transaction, against all odds.
Peter left Montreal office in the early 1990’s. He told us that the reason was because he couldn’t speak French. We were universally sad to see him go. He was a star partner, bringing in the most interesting clients and mandates, by far. Peter relocated to Mississauga and then Hamilton. But he never seemed to be as happy as when he was in Montreal providing advice on some of the most complicated things many of us had ever seen.
I will also always remember Peter for the confidence he had in me and his willingness to go to the wall to get me promoted to each level, on a fast track. He would stand up against the views of other partners, and we could always count on his support.
One example is when I had a serious case of viral meningitis and missed 4 months of work, and then worked only half hours for yet another 4 months. Peter kept me on full pay – even though I had only been with PW for 2 years at the time and had no right to receive any salary at all under the measly benefits regime at the time.
Lastly, when Price Warehouse set up its first Advisory (FAS) group in 1989, he was the one who sponsored this initiative and named me as partner-in-in charge. My first three internal hires were Pierre Fitzgibbon, now Minister of Commerce in Quebec, Guy LeBlanc, a former partner of PWC and now CEO of Investment Quebec, and Jacinthe Charbonneau, a retired partner of PWC. Peter not only inspired us to do our best; he inspired us the hire the very best people as well.
I am telling you this story as I will unfortunately miss his funeral but have only the most positive memories of his influence on me and a great number of people in the Montreal business community.
Loretta, Deirdre, Sharon, Neil and Tim, I was so saddened to learn that Peter had passed away. You may remember that I was his secretary at Price Waterhouse in Hamilton for several years until he retired in 1995. Peter was a such a gentleman, very understanding, supportive and a friend. I learned so much from him over the years. I know he will be dearly missed by all of you and your families. I will be unable to attend the visitation and mass as I am out of the country but my thoughts will be with you all at this sad time.
Peter Johnson was a tremendous Partner and a true gentleman. He acted as mentor and supporter for me when I relocated to Hamilton from Norway in 1987. He was undoubtedly one of the main reasons I was admitted to the PwC Partnership in 1990, despite the fact that my golf game was incredibly poor. His insight into difficult situations was outstanding. When both parties of a particular deal threatened to take us to court to press for their own version of events, Peter made a comment that stayed with me through the rest of my career “don’t worry about them, just do the right thing”. He never micromanaged but was always there to help resolve issues. When reviewing files and reports there were 3 stages of enquiry that many of us remember fondly- firstly looking at you over the rims of his glasses (“are you sure about that”), secondly the glasses on the head (“not sure about that answer”) and thirdly taking off the glasses and twirling them (“you really need to think about this again”). Respected by clients, colleagues and staff, Peter was pivotal in many people’s careers. He will be fondly remembered with gratitude by all of us.
Deepest sympathy.
Margaret Ruth Johnson Mcambly.
Morin Heights, Quebec.
I could write a book on the Johnson family and Peter . You will be sadly missed Peter as you have been a very good friend over the years and a very good golfing partner.
Over a 15 year period we played a lot of matches against each other but we were partners in tournaments.Peter was a wonderful partner . I
My wife Angela and I had many wonderful dinner parties with Peter and Rose.They were a fun couple to be around. I will miss talking to you Peter and I will cherish the times we had together.
Thank you Peter for being my friend.
Our deepest condolences to Loretta and family. We always enjoyed chatting with Peter about so many things. Travel, golf and what he would cook next. We will miss you, Peter but truly enjoyed our time together.