Obituary for James Colin Grant
JAMES COLIN GRANT
January 24, 1937 - July 15, 2022
With profound sadness we announce the passing of James (Jim) Colin Grant at Toronto General Hospital on July 15, 2022, from complications of lymphoma.
Jim was a proud Maritimer, born and raised in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. First attending St FX in his hometown, he moved to Halifax to complete his degree in electrical engineering at TUNS in 1959. After graduation he served in the Canadian Air Force and provided technical expertise in the construction of Pearson Airport, before joining the Royal Bank of Canada in 1967. He would go on to have an illustrious career at RBC, eventually becoming executive vice president of systems in 1987. A fiercely intelligent, dedicated banker and IT revolutionary, he was critical to the introduction of the automated banking machine to Canada and helped develop the foundations of our world-leading Interac system. He received many prestigious awards during his career, including being the first Canadian recipient of the Carnegie Mellon Award for Achievement in Managing Information Technology. Following his retirement from RBC, he started a successful IT consulting service and served on many international boards of directors including as a long-time Rogers Board Member.
He wed his soulmate Sonia in 1965, whom he was married to for 48 years until her death from leukemia in 2013. They spent the first 13 years of their marriage travelling the globe, from the headwaters of the Amazon to the plains of Africa and most points in between. After welcoming daughter Allison, they settled into a wonderful life in Oakville, Ontario, while continuing their world travels at every opportunity as a happy family of 3.
After retirement, Jim and Sonia fell in love with Florida, its weather, lifestyle, and requisite past-time of golf. They spent many wonderful years wintering in Florida, summering on Bayloch Road in NS with childhood friends of Jim's, and spending shoulder seasons with Allison's family in Toronto.
Jim was a dedicated, fun, and beloved grandpa to James and Eloise, and they will miss his morning cuddles, spun stories of the adventures of Peter Louie, secret treats and trips to Toys-R-Us immensely. Jim was a true gentleman, admired and respected by all; generous, humble and one of the funniest and most engaging personalities you could meet, the true "life of the party".
He will be missed by many, most especially his daughter, Dr. Allison; son-in-law, Tomi Nieminen; grandchildren, James and Eloise; and sister, Sister Patricia Grant.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Ontario, or The Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation.
As per Jim's wishes, there will be a small Catholic funeral, and a celebration of life on July 28, at Allison's home in Mississauga; for those in NS, we are planning a second celebration in Antigonish later in the summer, for details of both events please email jimcgrant@gmail.com.
January 24, 1937 - July 15, 2022
With profound sadness we announce the passing of James (Jim) Colin Grant at Toronto General Hospital on July 15, 2022, from complications of lymphoma.
Jim was a proud Maritimer, born and raised in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. First attending St FX in his hometown, he moved to Halifax to complete his degree in electrical engineering at TUNS in 1959. After graduation he served in the Canadian Air Force and provided technical expertise in the construction of Pearson Airport, before joining the Royal Bank of Canada in 1967. He would go on to have an illustrious career at RBC, eventually becoming executive vice president of systems in 1987. A fiercely intelligent, dedicated banker and IT revolutionary, he was critical to the introduction of the automated banking machine to Canada and helped develop the foundations of our world-leading Interac system. He received many prestigious awards during his career, including being the first Canadian recipient of the Carnegie Mellon Award for Achievement in Managing Information Technology. Following his retirement from RBC, he started a successful IT consulting service and served on many international boards of directors including as a long-time Rogers Board Member.
He wed his soulmate Sonia in 1965, whom he was married to for 48 years until her death from leukemia in 2013. They spent the first 13 years of their marriage travelling the globe, from the headwaters of the Amazon to the plains of Africa and most points in between. After welcoming daughter Allison, they settled into a wonderful life in Oakville, Ontario, while continuing their world travels at every opportunity as a happy family of 3.
After retirement, Jim and Sonia fell in love with Florida, its weather, lifestyle, and requisite past-time of golf. They spent many wonderful years wintering in Florida, summering on Bayloch Road in NS with childhood friends of Jim's, and spending shoulder seasons with Allison's family in Toronto.
Jim was a dedicated, fun, and beloved grandpa to James and Eloise, and they will miss his morning cuddles, spun stories of the adventures of Peter Louie, secret treats and trips to Toys-R-Us immensely. Jim was a true gentleman, admired and respected by all; generous, humble and one of the funniest and most engaging personalities you could meet, the true "life of the party".
He will be missed by many, most especially his daughter, Dr. Allison; son-in-law, Tomi Nieminen; grandchildren, James and Eloise; and sister, Sister Patricia Grant.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Ontario, or The Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation.
As per Jim's wishes, there will be a small Catholic funeral, and a celebration of life on July 28, at Allison's home in Mississauga; for those in NS, we are planning a second celebration in Antigonish later in the summer, for details of both events please email jimcgrant@gmail.com.