Dr. John Szasz

Dr. John Szasz, at the age of 97, died on February 1, 2025, at his home in Woodstock having lived a full and happy life. The only son of John and Juliana (Szabo), he was born in Peris, Mures, Transylvania on January 18, 1928. For 58 years he has been the cherished husband of Linda (Hill). Together they have been the proud parents of Andrew and Tina Szasz - Paige (Andrew) and Thomas (Kirsten); Dave and Michelle Szasz - Ella and Thalia; and Adrienne and Drew Moir - Finn and Jessica, all of whom he loved dearly and to whom he imparted his wisdom through gentle coaching, role modeling, and a million unforgettable stories. Left with many warm memories are his sister in-law-Sandra and her husband George Young and their children Bruce (Deirdre Bryce) Young, Alison (Bernard) Vigneault, and Catherine (Jack) Eva, along with their children. 
John came to Canada in 1938 with the family settling in Windsor. After attaining his medical degree from the University of Western Ontario, John opened a family practice in Sarnia where he tended to interesting cases, including one where he had to attend to the Captain of a container ship on the St. Clair River. John was taken by dinghy to scale the ship’s exterior ladder with his medical bag clenched in his teeth. 
After a few years, he left to study ophthalmology at the Cleveland Clinic where he obtained his fellowship in that specialty. On returning home he obtained his Canadian fellowship - FRCS(C). He moved to Woodstock in the early 1960s where he served the community as an Ophthalmologist until his retirement in 2009. His keen sense of humour and quick wit exhibited in the doctors’ lounge will be remembered by many. John believed that he worked so long because he truly loved his profession. He was a member of the Woodstock Rotary Club for 50 years, and a long time member of the Woodstock Curling Club. When not working he enjoyed fishing, hunting, woodworking, photography, and painting. His home away from home was the rustic cabin on Lake Temagami which he often referred to affectionately as “the shack”. Nothing made him happier than seeing how much his children loved his little piece of heaven - until he saw that all his grandchildren were equally enamoured.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Jeffrey Nichols, a very dear friend of John’s, for his tireless support of the family all while making John’s care his greatest concern.
Friends will be received at the Brock and Visser Funeral Home, 845 Devonshire Ave., Woodstock (519-539-0004) on Friday, February 7, 2025, from 5 until 8 p.m. with a Celebration of Life taking place at Knox Presbyterian Church, 59 Riddell Street, Woodstock on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at 1 p.m. Cremation has taken place. For those wishing to do so, please consider memorial donations to VON Sakura House, Ontario Heart and Stroke Foundation https://www.heartandstroke.ca/contact-us, Woodstock Hospital https://whfoundation.ca/donate-now/ or Knox Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund https://knoxwoodstock.ca/donations/

If you make a memorial contribution and would like a notification provided to the family, please contact the Funeral Home.