Obituary of James Desson

James "Jim" Alexander Desson Died peacefully at the Elisabeth Bruyere Palliative Care Centre in Ottawa, his wife Heather of forty-five years by his side. He had been battling cancer for six months. He was 73 years old.He will be greatly missed by his four children Andrew (Laura), Craig (Katherine), Erin (Shahin) and Michael (Eugénie); and grandson Leo, as well his four siblings, Daisy (Denis), Margaret (Mark), David (Cindy) and John (Mary).Jim was born in Toronto in 1946, but it was in Montreal, in the 1960s, where he truly discovered himself. Jim loved learning, first as student at Sir Geroge Williams University (now Concordia), and later at McGill University where he graduated with a Masters degree in education. His interests ranged widely, taking courses in theatre and computer science, in addition to his degree. In 1969, he discovered the Bahá'í Faith which became his compass and touchstone for the rest of his life.A committed Bahá’í, he served on the Spiritual Assemblies of Fort Smith (NWT); Montreal; Dollard des Ormeaux; Lachine; Rideau Township; and Cornwall. Words were as important as deeds to Jim; he was a founding partner of the Bahá'í publishing and book distribution company, Nine Pines Publishing, also founding Red Oak Media, as well as a long-time member of the Ottawa Bahá'í Writers Group. It was with the support of the Bahá'í Writers Group that he finished his book “The Little Guy with the Big Heart,” launched at his bedside a few days before his passing. McGill University was also where he met the love of his life, Heather Harvey. They married in 1975, moving to Lachine a few years later where they started a family not far from the Saint Lawrence River. A man of imagination, Jim loved to entertain his young children with his stories and songs. When the family moved to Manotick, Ontario in 1990, he extended his creative reach with a pantomime, “The Princess and the Sentinel,” which he co-wrote for Lakeside Players.After teaching in Northern Quebec, he taught developmentally disabled children in both Montreal and Ottawa. After he retired from teaching he worked at the Shepherds for Good Hope, a homeless shelter in Ottawa. What mattered most to Jim was his faith, his family, and his creativity. He loved nothing better than to bring them together in conversations that touched on subjects as diverse as the human soul and quantum computing. Although death came too soon for Jim, he met death with grace and courage, never doubting that this world is but a poor reflection of the glorious spiritual worlds to come.Due to preventive measures for COVID-19, only a small graveside service for family is possible at this time. There will be a memorial for friends and family when the restrictions are lifted. In the interim, there will also be a Zoom memorial in the next week. If you wish to attend please add your email at this address: https://forms.gle/2phhH9wMecw3YR6k8