Obituary
JOHN BOYD MUIR
November 4, 1951 – April 11, 2025
(Toronto, Canada – Toronto, Canada)
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of John Boyd Muir on April 11, 2025. John was predeceased by his father Jack, his mother June, and his brother James, and is survived by his siblings Kathleen Young (Paul), Tom Muir (Patricia), June Ntazinda (Franco), and Jocelyn Saunders (Blair), his sister-in-law Mary Muir, and his nieces and nephews Emma (Alex) & Graham (Alona), Lauren (Shaun) & Christopher, Mutesi (Wesley) & Musinga, KiT & Jennie, and Brooke (Justin) & Brett. John also leaves behind many extraordinary friends.
A competitive swimmer in his youth, John’s lifelong passion was sailing. Trapezing off the side of a Flying Dutchman screaming along on a broad reach; shimming up the mast of an International Eight Metre in a squall to clear a spinnaker; knowing what to do, and successfully getting it done, when a 54-footer started going down off the coast of North Carolina after its hull cracked open from bouncing off the ocean floor in a ‘double trough wave’; captaining the boat guiding his sister as she swims across Lake Ontario. If you were on an open body of water, particularly in challenging conditions, you wanted John by your side.
In the early 1970s, John secured the Canadian rights to sell Windsurfers. Within a few years he was selling more Windsurfers per capita in Canada than were being sold almost anywhere else in the world. In 1977, John hosted the North American Windsurfer championships with races held on Georgian Bay.
Over the last few decades, John developed many friendships in the U.S. John was particularly proud of work he did with organizations to help people with disabilities and disadvantaged children experience the joy of sailing, including American Disabilities Foundation, Inc., Winterfest Boat Parade, Marine Corps Toys for Tots, and Grace Center Street Art Regatta.
John fought cancer with courage and determination. His family are grateful for the tremendous support John received from his many friends, and from the dedicated and caring doctors, nurses, and other support workers at Mount Sinai Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital, and Toronto Western Hospital. Please consider a donation to one of these world-class hospitals in John’s memory, or supporting one of the organizations listed above with which John was involved.
Messages and stories of remembrance may be left online at www.cardinalfuneralhomes.com.
John – you will be dearly missed. We wish you fair winds and, as you often signed off on your notes to us, ‘Miles of Smiles’, with love from your many friends and family.
Visitation
Service
Cremation
Date
Location
Evergreen Crematorium
Evergreen Crematorium
Time
June 04, 2025
Sending heart hugs to John’s loved ones. We had a serendipitous meeting on the dock of the RCYC launch as I was leaving after the 1975 North American Laser championships and John was arriving. Somehow we connected, something clicked, we became friends and I had the pleasure of knowing him for these past 50 years. We had fun with the first event (after Ontario Place) of teaching guests how to windsurf at Cleveland House during that first summer of this new and very exciting sailing sport. We shared many other good times, especially around our birthdays every year. He recently reminded me that he once bought me a chocolate cheesecake and remembered that I didn’t like it? Not sure that was a correct memory! Yet there are many magical memories of our moments together. Love you, John.
May 12, 2025
I met John windsurfing when I was 27 and he was 32. I was designing life support equipment for the DND and has put together a pretty cool PFD. We stayed close all his life. If I were out on lake Ontario windsurfing he could spot me from over a mile away. I knew he had gotten sick but I am super shocked and extremely saddened to hear of his passing. Such an incredibly kind and creative soul...Love you John
May 11, 2025
This one epitomises how humble John always was. I have so many great photos. In this video he just stays out of the way so to speak to make it about Karen and her abilities plus the special seat he and Jorge invented. John knew EVERYONE in the sailing world.
https://youtu.be/ba6qEvoZ1cw?si=0ktOEG4UF9TCCfrb
May 11, 2025
My heart just broke. After not hearing from John for over a month, I googled him. My most sincere and deepest condolences to his family. I loved John as a friend and mentor. We had a special bond. Well he did with everyone. There are two videos here that showed how close we all got. I’d love to stay in touch with anyone close to John. I’m devastated. We sat in one of the boats we lived on at Shake A Leg Miami and read Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein. There are so many wonderful moments. Here is but one. https://youtu.be/MfNjVEspdMU?si=ZeWBF88l0FksUAew
We met at Key West Race Week in 2005, and then he brought onboard with the disabled sailing program in Coconut Grove, Miami.
May 05, 2025
John Muir’s life was one of Action and Adventure surviving many obstacles and challenges on the way. He was successful in bringing Windsurfing into Canada in the 70’s before anyone had heard of it!! His Marketing Skills surpassed everyone as he made the front page of the Toronto Globe and Mail sailing on his board in the highest waves ever in a rainstorm in November. He was so cold that brother Tom gave him his gloves. John and I were young and in love and had some wonderful times together!! God Bless you John, Love Becky
May 02, 2025
John was a smart, kind and creative man, who will be greatly missed by those who knew him. He was a gifted storyteller who was always ready to assist others. Goodbye John, people like you are seldom seen.
May 02, 2025
I first met John in 1970 at the Royal Canadian Yacht where I was a sailing instructor and he had a small businees cleaning boat bottoms and crewing in Solings. A kind and considerate person our mutual passion for sailing was the basis for our relationship. Always had a smile on his face and a kind word. My condolences to his family and many friends.
April 29, 2025
John was a longtime family friend and someone who shared a deep bond with my father, Bill Kassel. I always enjoyed our conversations about sailing—something we were both passionate about. John had a wealth of stories from the water, and I learned a lot just listening to him recount his racing exploits.
One of my favorite memories was when he invited me to sail with him at the J/24 North American Championships in New Orleans. It was an incredible regatta and a truly special experience to share with him. His passion for sailing was infectious, and his kindness and generosity left a lasting impression.
John was a true gentleman, and he will be deeply missed.
May his memory be a blessing.
April 28, 2025
In this life we sometimes meet people who help us become better people, John is one of those people. Many times we are faced with situations that requires positive thought and action to improve things. John told me that his mother would ask,when a problem arose, ' So what are YOU going to do to make things better?'
John learned well from his mother to be part of the solution. I thank you John for your great spirit and for helping make the world a better place. I will miss speaking with you and hearing about what you're up to next. Neil Darroch
April 21, 2025
To John’s family and friends, I was so sorry to hear of John’s passing. Though words feel insufficient in moments like this, I hope it brings some comfort to know how deeply admired and respected John was by so many. His passion for life — especially on the water — was truly inspiring. The way he lived with courage, enthusiasm, and a generous heart left a lasting impression on all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Fair winds, John. Miles of Smiles.
April 20, 2025
What a kind and gentle person he was. And I had no idea about his illness. He will be missed by the Toronto sailing community, and I for one will miss his wise anecdotes for living a better life. Condolences to his family and the many souls he touched along the way. Fair Winds John
April 18, 2025
Dear Kathleen, Tom, June and Jocelyn,
I am so sorry for your loss.
John was a kind, thoughtful man. He and I reconnected last fall. We corresponded often. His emails were lovely.
I know he will be missed by all who new him. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this sad time.
"Miles of smiles"
April 17, 2025
Hello June & Franco,
There no words to ease the pain of someone so dear, please know I am holding you and your family close in my thoughts. With deepest sympathy and all my love.
Philippe B
April 16, 2025
Hi Katheen, so sad to hear of the passing of your brother. Has it been almost 52 years since leaving old JCI. Time really flies. How are you doing lately.
Last time we met was at the Loblaws store on Moore and Bayview many years ago.
You told me you live nearby in the house with the "red door"As for me, we still attend a Bi annual lunch together with some of the old gang. Wish you could attend, ( next one in Sept).
Couldn't find any dates and time for visitations. Is it too late?
April 16, 2025
I am very sorry for your loss. John holds a special place in my memory since he insisted I get my first email address - he wouldn't take no for an answer and I have always been grateful for that!
April 16, 2025
Sending condolences to Kathleen....sorry to hear of your brother John's passing. I met him at the reunion for the Jarvis class of '71 and he was well-liked and will be missed.
April 16, 2025
Troy and I and the whole South Florida community miss John’s Joy and his intelligence every day really since last year when we saw less of him. He was - is - a great friend that can never be replaced. We will make sure as best we can, through the art we produce, that many people remember John and his contributions to community projects for generations to come. Love to the Muir family and may God comfort you all in this time.
April 15, 2025
There are no words to describe John and the beautiful selfless soul he was.....he was absolutely one of the most amazing people I have ever known.
He touched more lives in 1 lifetime than most people do in 5 lifetimes.
He had such a gift of bringing people together. His incredible intellect and the way he connected people and ideas was unmatched.
Being around John & anyone in his orbit was taken into another dimension....he added such depth & "magic" to the experience.
John thought anything was possible & that's one of the things I loved most about him.
John will be deeply missed & we are all blessed to have experienced the "experience of John."
April 15, 2025
I look back on many happy decades of friendship with John and his family. May he rest in peace!
April 15, 2025
Dearest Tom and Pat,
Please accept my deepest condolences during this difficult time. I read your brother's beautiful Obituary and was highly impressed with John's passion for sailing and his generosity with his time with disadvantaged children. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
April 15, 2025
I worked in the Ontario Place Marina for a couple of high school summers back in the 70s. One day John, already a well-known hot shot sailor, showed up with this surfboard with a sail on it. It’s “The latest thing”, a Windsurfer. It barely qualified as a boat! John gave it to us at the marina on condition that we sail it around in Ontario Place every day for all the world to see. We did. They sold like hot cakes. I bought my own and sailed that thing endlessly for five or six years. Apparently not just an athlete but a visionary and a salesman.
May his memory be a blessing to all his friends and family.
April 15, 2025
John was a great friend, volunteer and huge cheerleader. I could always count on him to show up and give a smile, compliment and cheer me on with every email he received.
As the Founder of Freedom Waters Foundation, John and I have known each other well over 20 years. He always cheered me on in what I was doing and helped when he could.
I met him through Shake a Leg Miami and through Kerry Gruson and spent a great deal of time with them.
He will forever be in my heart and make me smile. John, thank you for all you did for so many and for being my friend and awesome cheerleader. Rest in peace, my friend.
April 15, 2025
John Muir... a diehard friend from UCC whom I never saw again but always remember... called me after 50+ years to say his mother had died [June was a spectacular parent]... shredded his hand breaking a window to gain unauthorized access to the school's squash court in an early morning's hour, all without drama [Shearer bandaged it] ... John was hard-core and hard-a**ed but always personable ... far too few of his character these days
April 15, 2025
I am so happy to have met John! He came to Florida often and crewed for me and others on their Sonars. He was a mission accomplisher, and in one of his projects, he developed a custom tiller for handicap sailors to steer a sonar and race with us. He eventually donated a Sonar to Fleet 36, the name of which is Amazing Grace, and we race it weekly. In John’s honor, I am now working on establishing an annual regatta named MILES OF SMILES for Florida’s Sonar Fleet 36. My friend, a professional boat carver has agreed to make a Sonar hull, mounted above a shapely base, as a perpetual trophy, and we will honor John in presenting this trophy every year. John will be missed by many in all the places he has traveled and his funny comments and skilled opinions have taught me so much. He was certainly one of a kind! With a heavy heart at this difficult time, we, the Sonar Fleet 36, send our sincere condolences to the Muir family.
