Jay passed away peacefully at home with family February 21, 2022 at the age of 101.
Born in Campbellford, Ontario to James Charles Anderson and Lela Claire Stuart, he attended elementary and secondary schools there and graduated in Medicine from the University of Toronto in 1943.
He served in World War II as a regimental medical officer in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Core attached to the 86th Bridge Company in Canada and in Northwest Europe. Upon discharge in 1946, it was found that he had been infected with pulmonary tuberculosis necessitating six months in various sanitaria followed by six months limited activity. During the latter, his fiancée Geertruida (Truus) Emsbroek arrived in Canada from the Netherlands, and they were married in Campbellford in April 1947.
In 1948 he opened an office for general practice in his home town. However, after four years of solo practice his tuberculosis became active again and he was admitted to Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto for treatment and recovery. Seeking a branch of medicine in which he could have regular hours, he returned to U of T for a year to get his Diploma in Public Health.
His first assignment was with the Simcoe County Health Unit working out of Orillia for 8 years after which he became Medical Officer of Health at the Peterborough Health Department for 4 years. In 1966 he shifted direction to become the editor of the Canadian Medical Association Journal in Toronto and then in Ottawa until 1975.
In 1996, Truus died. In 1997, Jay married Pearl Snyder and moved to Calgary. After Pearl’s death in 2017, he moved back to Toronto to be near family. Jay re-connected with a significant long-time friend which resulted in his move to London to be with Dr. Katherine Turner. They spent 4 very happy years together which was especially important during a time of COVID isolation.
Jay lived a remarkable life bookended by two global pandemics. He was guided by his faith; his belief in the basic goodness of people; his dedication to living a healthy life in mind, body and spirit; and, most memorably, he was guided by the importance of finding meaning and humour in his day to day life. Jay was a gentleman of the “old school” and was an exemplary product of an educational system that stressed memorization. He could draw with ease and perfect timing upon quotations from the Bible, from a wide range of poetry, from Kahlil Gibran, from Robbie Burns and from the person he had just met in the elevator to bring humour, insight and comfort to any situation. Jay loved music from the ‘30’s and ‘40’s – especially the big band or Swing era brought to life every Saturday on the TV by Lawrence Welk. Humorous and meaningful conversation is perhaps what he valued most. People mattered to Jay and their personal stories were always valued. In this way, he was a great humanist.
Jay is survived by his sons David (Lesley), James (Martha deceased), Ian (Kate) and daughter, Audrey (Richard) and six grandchildren: Mieke (Zac), Megan (Paul), Aaron (Meg), Casey, Mariah and Juliette and three great grandchildren: Logan, Lucas and Liam. He is also survived by his niece, Mary K Anderson, great-nephew Asud (Caitlin) and great-great nieces Norah and Evelyn, nephew Jack Anderson (Shirley) and cousin Glenn Thompson (Gloria). He is lovingly remembered by Medalit Quispe, Ann Irwin and his Dutch nieces and nephews Frits Emsbroek (Ietje), Lex Emsbroek (Christiane), Fieneke, Inge (Charles), and Berend Jan Garssen (Wies). In addition to his parents, Jay was predeceased by his brothers Dr. Ernest Anderson (Ruth) and Stuart Anderson (Helen); his nieces and nephews Laura Lee, Bill Anderson, Bob Anderson, Margot Emsbroek, Herman Emsbroek, Piet-Hein Emsbroek; and his Dutch in-laws Bart and Enny Emsbroek, Gerda and Jan Garssen, Henk and Gu Emsbroek.
Jay will be remembered by his many friends at Knox Presbyterian Church in Ottawa, Centre Street Church in Calgary and by his adopted Snyder and Turner extended families. Jay wanted to be – and will be – remembered as a loving person who was fun to be with and made others feel special.
In Jay’s memory, please extend an act of kindness to those around you.
Jay was a gentleman who always had a mischievous glint in his eye and a ready story to hand.
He was an entertaining companion, with his tales often involving the merits of Campbellford.
He will be greatly missed by my Aunt Kath, his family, and anyone who had the pleasure of meeting him.
We are so sorry to hear of Jay’s passing. He was such a bright light for 101 years!
Our family had such close connections with Jay and family for several decades. My father, Cope and Jay were good friends, medical colleagues, and supporters of the arts. They celebrated their birthdays together every year. Jay had a wonderful sense of humour and was a tremendous and loyal friend to my parents over the years. He kept in close touch, regardless of where he was living at the time. He was extremely well read and very entertaining, always with a twinkle in his eye. He taught us many important life lessons. We are sending love and condolences to all of Jay’s family and extended family.
I am deeply saddened by this great person’s passing. I only knew Jay Anderson for a short time, but he showed me that there is more to life than what we can see. “There is no age for love” he would say “you are never too old to find love” another one of his frases that made an impact in what it became of my life. In many ways Dr. Anderson drew me and my partner David close together as he was a perfect example of love and an inspiration for both of us. His poetic written notes are part of the memories that I will keep close to my heart till my time comes.
RIP Dr. Anderson! And to his sons, dauther Audrey, Katherine and other family members, my deepest condolences to you all.
Our condolences to the Anderson family. I am behind in my reading of the Globe and Mail and just read the obituary of Jay Anderson. What a delight he was to know. The obituary rightly proclaimed his kindness, grace, and generosity. My wife, Linda, and I knew Jay and Truus while worshiping at Knox Ottawa in the 1970s. Jay and Truce were the ‘adult’ friends of a new university group at the church where about 30 idealistic and passionate university students debated issues of the day, social justice, human sexuality (we were in favour of this in all its forms) inter-faith issues, aboriginal justice issues, and many more things. Jay and Truus were kind wonderfully warm and caring people who encouraged the rest of us to want to become more like them. I have so many fond and delightful memories of that time, now so long ago. Linda and I became Presbyterian ministers and retired just 18 months ago after 41 years. Jay and Truus were at our ordination at Knox Ottawa in June of 1979 and wished us well with a kind gift that we still treasure. Wonderful man. Thank you for sharing your love and family stories in the obituary. He was a blessing to so many, many people.
To my old friends Dave and Jim, What a beautiful obituary. Your dad sounds like such a wonderful human being. I know you will miss him very much. His warmth, wisdom and sense of humour lives on in you, and no doubt in many others whose lives he touched. You have my sincerest sympathy.
Anna