John E. Chatterley

John E. Chatterley, 83, died peacefully at home on May 6, 2026. He was born in Birmingham, England on November 23, 1942 – the son of Frank and Hilda (née Monk). He was the beloved husband of Rosemary Chatterley for over 50 years; the devoted father of Mark (Tracey) and Neal (Stephanie), and proud grandfather of Cole, Brooke, Jeremy, Ava, and Jude. He is lovingly remembered by his sister Diane Kemp (Denis) and his brother-in-law John Monk (Elizabeth). He will also be fondly remembered by his nieces, nephews, extended family, and many friends. 

John attended Manchester University in England where he earned a degree in Electrical Engineering. He began his career as an electrical engineer in England and then Scotland before moving to Canada in 1979. In Canada he worked in engineering and engineering management at Bell Northern Research, Bell Northern Telecom, and then Nortel before his retirement in 2001. Throughout his career, he enjoyed the challenge of building new products and bringing them to market. After his retirement, he was part of the Nortel pensioners group and helped to ensure they were treated as fairly as possible. 

John played badminton in university and transitioned to squash in Canada. He was actively involved in his children’s lives, organizing junior squash tournaments, coaching soccer, helping them build cub cars, and frequently acting as the mechanic for radio-controlled car racing.

When his kids were young, John purchased an Apple II clone that helped jumpstart Neal and Mark’s computer careers. He enjoyed walking at Andrew Haydon Park and Bruce Pit with dogs Lorrie and Lexi. Together, Rosemary and John were avid travelers – embarking on such adventures exploring Scandinavia and New Zealand, as well as cruising the Danube River. He was happiest watching his grandchildren grow and succeed in school, sports, hockey, gymnastics, and soccer. 

John enjoyed his supper and breakfast clubs, playing bridge with close friends, and researching his ancestry. He was an avid sports fan and especially loved watching hockey, football, and Formula One. John was kind to all he met and, no matter the stage of life, he was a source of sage advice and unwavering support. 

A Celebration of John’s Life will be held at Tubman Funeral Home Garden Chapel, 3440 Richmond Road, on Friday, May 29, 2026, from 2:00pm to 5:00pm. Please join the family for Words of Remembrance at 2:30pm. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Ottawa Hospital Foundation in memory of John.