Good Friend of the WCTA, John Bladon, Passed Away on November 1st
September 2, 1968 - November 1, 2023
John Russell Bladon of Guelph, Ontario, 55, passed away peacefully at home with his family and faithful dogs at his side after a heroic battle with stage four renal cell carcinoma on November 1, 2023.
Born September 2, 1968, to Michael and Elaine Bladon, John spent his formative years growing up on the grounds of the Guelph Arboretum. Spending summer days with his sister Alexis at the family cottage at Lions Head, fishing, bike riding and swimming in Georgian Bay. He was multi-talented, a natural athlete, and a musician. An avid gardener, his garden was a labour of love and a thing of beauty. John loved the New Orleans Saints, playing poker, and travelling. Most recently, he travelled to Scotland to fulfill a lifelong dream to take in and play the ancient golf courses in Scotland.
In 2010, John met the love of his life, Sabrina, and in 2012, they eloped in Belize, starting a beautiful love story. One of Johns final wishes was to renew their wedding vows in front of family and friends, which they did in June of this year. In their shared life, the park along the river by their house was a haven for them and their pups after busy days.
Johns love of golf and the turfgrass industry started a lifelong passion to improve the game. As a teenager, he spent days at the driving range and evenings working on the maintenance team at Cutten Fields. In 1991, he graduated from the University of Guelph with a diploma in Turfgrass Management. John was instrumental in building Port Carling Golf Club and Guelph Lakes Golf and Country Club. He worked in equipment sales and was an agronomic technical representative for a fertilizer company before starting his own businesses ’ The Chimera Group and Turf Prophit. Work was not just a four-letter word for John; it was his passion. He found his consulting work both invigorating and challenging and loved chatting with golf course superintendents about improving the golf courses and the game.
John was strong-willed and stubborn at times, but he also had an enormous heart and a wonderful sense of humour. He was generous and loyal. He was clever and full to the brim with knowledge gained through all his life experiences. With his big heart and generous spirit, John loved his family and surrounded himself with loved ones, both people and animals.
John is survived by his loving wife, Sabrina (nee Lojuk), parents Michael and Elaine Bladon, sister Alexis Nagami and brother-in-law Craig of Guelph, Ontario. In-laws Walter Lojuk of Waterford Township, Michigan, Nancy Lojuk of Montgomery, Texas, Eric and Jenny Lojuk of Aubrey, Texas and Bryan Lojuk of Spring, Texas. John was the beloved uncle of Corbin Lojuk and Aiden Lojuk of Aubrey, Texas. As a passionate animal lover, John also considered rescue dogs Holly, Cooper, and rescue cat Benny (whom he affectionately called Benji) his family members. He will be missed by aunts, uncles, cousins and many friends across Canada, the US, and the world.
Regardless of what he was up to or where he was, his sarcastic wit, work ethic, and curious nature shone through. Now, as his life is celebrated, all parts of him will be missed.
In loving memory of John, donations can either be made to Helpaws, the animal rescue in St. Lucia, where he and Sabrina adopted Cooper, or to Kidney Cancer Canada Foundation, which supported John and Sabrina during his treatment.