James Conner was born on Wednesday, January 18, 1928 in Hamilton, Ontario. He died in his 99th year on October 30, 2026 at Sunnybrook Veterans Hospital in Toronto. If he had known he would die in Toronto, he likely would not have agreed to move there! Jim was always a Habs fan (not the Leafs) and Tiger-Cats fan (not the Argos), though he did love the Blue Jays. Jim received excellent professional care at SVH for almost four and a half years, first in K2C, and then LFSE. In the end, he was happy to be there, enjoying bingo, euchre, men’s dinner club and baking sessions plus outings to various legions, Blue Jays games, etc. He loved getting to know the staff as well as some of the residents and kibitzing with them.
Jim grew up very poor “on the mountain” in Hamilton, with 5 siblings, all deceased now. He had two older sisters Isobel (Henderson) and Helen (Birt), one older brother Bill, and two younger sisters Jessie (McMurdo King) and Gladys (Weisbrod). Jim had to quit school after grade 9 to get a job to support his family. His father, William Conner was a hard task master and Jim was often the brunt of his bad temper. Jim worked for a butcher, delivering meats on his bicycle all over the city. Then he had to carry his bike up the Wentworth street steps to go home every night. He later worked for Mercury Mills during WW2, making stockings. All his earnings went to his father. As soon as he turned 18, he decided to join the Royal Canadian Navy and see the world, little realizing that he would be seasick for 5 years! He was fortunate to see many parts of Europe and the Caribbean during his stint with the navy, and worked very hard as a stoker on board. He still sent most of his earnings home to his mother, Jean, at that time. During one leave in Hamilton, he decided to take dance lessons at Arthur Murray dance studio. There he met a lovely young dance teacher named Lillian Katan. It was love at first sight for Jim. The courting began.
Jim did not sign up for a second stint in the navy, instead got a job in Hamilton. On December 29 1951, he married the lovely Lillian. He adored her parents, John and Mary Katan, who were very good to them. There were many happy times going dancing at various venues in Hamilton and Burlington during their courtship and early marriage. One memorable one was at The Brant Inn in Burlington where they saw Ella Fitzgerald. Dad was so poor, that he didn’t have enough money for a taxi to take Lillian home that night, so they walked, a distance of 15 km.
In 1953, they were blessed with daughter Linda, followed by sons Chris in 1955 (deceased 2018) and Steve in 1959. Dad worked as a Hamilton police officer for several years, where he became a “sharp shooter” at target practice (he won many trophies). Dad found police work difficult, especially when called to disturbing domestic violence cases, so he moved to Stelco as a security guard. Shift work was not easy, but Jim adjusted, with Lillian’s help.
Jim and Lillian were fortunate to retire at age 60 and become “snowbirds”. They bought a small house in Dunedin Florida and enjoyed 19 years wintering there, participating in many activities, and enjoying the good weather. The met many good friends there, particularly June and Ron Thompson of Oakville and were able to visit sister Jessie and her husband Perry who lived in Homosassa. In spite of having undiagnosed Charcot Marie Tooth disease, Dad was very active physically. He golfed, swam, cycled, shuffled, bowled and walked till he was 80.
In 2007, they moved to a brand new Amica in Dundas where they had a nice apartment, and were pampered with meals and activities. Dad kept swimming and exercising in the small pool there into his early 90s. Sadly, Lillian died on October 20, 2011 after having a stroke. Jim was bereft. But somehow he kept going until 2022 when he had a bad fall. After a short hospital stay in Hamilton, Jim was thankfully accepted into Sunnybrook Veterans Hospital in Toronto. It was the best place he could be. Linda was able to visit him often, and enjoyed listening to stories from his past. Although Jim was a strong and opinionated person who loved a good joke and always liked to give advice, he was also a caring and loving husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle and friend.
Jim will be fondly remembered by daughter Linda Scott Barber, son-in-law Michael Barber, son Steve Conner, three grandchildren (Jennifer Troke, Kathryn, and Bon Scott), and four great grandchildren (Emma and Molly Troke, Solomon Henderson and Alex Bertalan-Scott), Nancy Conner, Vicky Conner, many nieces and nephews, caring and dedicated staff at Amica Dundas and Sunnybrook Veterans Hospital especially wonderful Margaret Anstey-Lim and Leslie Stephens.
God rest your soul, Jim. May you rest in peace.
There will be no funeral. In Jim’s memory, donations to Sunnybrook Veterans Hospital would be appreciated. https://foundation.sunnybrook.ca