John Molyneux was born on June 28, 1932, in Manchester, England. He spent his early years as a well-loved little boy. In 1939 he was evacuated at the start of World War II to the home of a retired farmer in Alton Towers, Staffordshire. He was happy in the countryside, learning how to grow potatoes and carrots as well as lettuces and cabbages. In 1941 his parents moved to Lincoln where he finished elementary school and got promoted to the local high school – the City School- starting in 1942. He earned his School Certificate in 1946, his Higher School Certificate in 1949, and again in 1950. Also, in 1950 he won an Open Scholarship in Geography at Durham University, where he graduated with a BA in 1953. He then attended Manchester University to gain a post-graduate certificate in education, qualifying him to become a teacher. He then got a job in London at the Vaughan School, where he eventually became Head of the Geography Department as well as University Entrance co-ordinator. He also taught night school at the North-West Polytechnic and introduced Economics for study at his day school. In early 1968 he saw an ad for teachers of Geography needed in Toronto; so he applied, was appointed, and moved to Canada. He was assigned to teach at Monarch Park Secondary School. During his year at Monarch Park, he was appointed to be Head of Geography at Central Technical School, where he spent the next four years of his career. He also got his first book – an Economics textbook – published by English Universities Press. After leaving Central Tech he became Head of Geography at Harbord Collegiate (1973-1976) and then Vice-Principal at Bloor Collegiate (1976-1981), where he continued to write successful Geography textbooks, especially World Prospects, written for senior students, which eventually went through three separate editions. He became principal at Castle Frank High School in 1981 and came to regard his time there as the happiest of his career. He took an early retirement in 1992 rather than be moved by the Toronto Board’s trustees to another school. After retirement he travelled extensively over most of the world, even visiting Antarctica three times. It was on one of his trips to Norway – that he met his wife Catherine, whom he married in 2004, and now leaves with great sadness.
~Written by: John Molyneux~

A Celebration of Life Reception will take place at Barnes Memorial Funeral Home, 5295 Thickson Road North, Whitby, ON, on Tuesday, August 8th, 2023 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in John's memory can be made to one of his favourite charities, the Salvation Army.

Shared memories and messages of condolences can be left for the family at barnesmemorialfuneralhome.com