Dear editor:

On behalf of Willowbank in Queenston and myself, I wish to pay tribute to John Kormos, whose obituary appeared in the July 20 edition of The Lake Report.

We offer condolences to his wife Elizabeth and his relatives. He was an amazing man – teacher, school principal, antique dealer.

John bought and restored with period furniture the house built for Robert Hamilton and Catherine Askin’s first son Robert and Mary Biggar – in 1808.

It is designated under the Ontario Heritage Act.

As a member of the Queenston Community Association, he fought alongside Laura Dodson and the NOTL Conservancy and Coun. Rob Copeland and his wife Helena, former lord mayor Gary Burrows etc. to save Willowbank and its 12-plus acres from becoming a country inn, winery, convention centre – or demolished.

Thanks to the Bright Urban families, they won. Laura recruited John to the founding Willowbank board in 2002.

He inaugurated and led the jazz festival fundraisers for many years.

Most of our early furniture and rugs came from his clients’ estates as donations for tax credits.

He gave lectures to our students at the Willowbank School of Restoration Arts. And, generously, he did our appraisals for many years.

Thank you, John, for your good works and your friendship. Truly a life well-lived.

Elizabeth Oliver-Malone
NOTL