Dr. John Hamilton Read dies at 78
One of the most enduring figures on the Canadian ski scene died on May 31. After a long battle with Alzheimer Disease, Dr. John Hamilton Read died at the Colonel Belcher Care Centre in Calgary at the age of 78.
Dr. Read is the husband of Canadian ski hall-of-famer Dorothy (Dee) Read, and the father of Jan Coleman, Ron Read, Ken Read and Jim Read. Ken and Jim both raced for the Canadian Alpine Ski Team, and Ken is the current president of Alpine Canada Alpin. Ron is chairman of Ski Jump Canada.
Dr. Read a war veteran, served with the Canadian Navy during World War II. He attended McGill University Medical School, graduating in 1950, and subsequently devoted part of his life to education and research, with positions at UBC, Queen’s and the University of Calgary. He was devoted to his children, and is credited with the child restraint systems in cars as well as seatbelt legislation is Alberta.
Another big part of his life was sport, playing hockey in university and graduating to skiing through his marriage to Dee. He volunteered thousands of hours to the Lake Louise Ski Club, Alberta Alpine, the Canadian Ski Association, Alpine Canada, and the 1988 Olympic organizing committee.
A celebration of Dr. Read’s life will be held at McInnis & Holloway’s "Chapel of the Bells" at 2720 Centre Street North on Tuesday, June 18 at 3 p.m.
You can express your condolences to the family at condolences@mcinnisandholloway.com .
If you wish you can make a contribution in Dr. Read’s name to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Calgary Chapter (403-266-5295), one of the causes Dr. Read was especially supportive of as his grandson Andrew has the disease.
