In loving memory of Ron Harrison 

Ron Harrison, much-loved father, grandfather and great grandfather, talented pianist and music composer as well as passionate sailor and tennis player, passed away peacefully in his sleep in his 92nd year. 

Ron’s life was filled with music from an early age. His father, from a family of musicians in the Lancashire area in England, was a brilliant piano player and a silent film pianist in Hamilton. As a child Ron studied piano to the highest level at the Royal Conservatory of music and, in his teenage years, he formed his own 12-piece band – the “Ron Harrison Orchestra”. which played many high-school dances, at LaSalle Park and around the Hamilton area. He met Jean in high-school at the age of 15 and, in 1954, Ron and Jean married. Jean was his greatest fan and support and they were true partners in everything they did, and an example to many. 

Ron was a Grammy nominated and multi award winning Canadian film and television composer who wrote and recorded music for more than 750 TV shows and films, and the musicians in his many recording sessions was a Who’s Who of the greatest musicians in Canada. He composed original music for Walt Disney Records Read Along Stories, recorded 2 original record albums and 4 CD’s. Ron also arranged the music for 2 Children’s albums. 

Never one to stop learning, Ron studied Music and Composition in Canada and the United States with a number of leading teachers including: Gordon Delmont and Oscar Peterson, he also studied at the prestigious Rochester school of music, and was always looking for ways to improve. In the 1980’s, he was the first Canadian film composer to embrace and use the newly invented, revolutionary Fairlight synthesizer. 

Ron’s many achievements have been recognised with numerous awards and as an eminent Canadian talent with a star on the “Mississauga Music Walk of Fame” in Port Credit Ontario. 

Ron loved sailing and shared his passion and so many adventures with Jean, his wife and partner of almost 60 years, together with family and friends on their classic yacht “Bernice”. 

Ron is predeceased by his wife Jean (2013) and son David (2019). He will be greatly missed by his daughters Jeanine and Anne, son in law Ken, grandchildren Sarah (Gerry), Rachel (Rob), Megan (Jonathan) and Laura (Eric), great grandchildren McKennah, Peyton and Jackson, as well as by his sister in law Mary-Louise, and nieces Sarah, Abigail and Emily.