James Edward Boone

Boone, James Edward

After a long and rich life, James Boone died peacefully on January 29, 2026, at 98 years of age. Jim was born on July 31, 1927, the second and youngest son of Frank and Helen Boone. He grew up in Hamilton Ontario, with his fun-loving older brother Frank Jr. While Jim excelled as a student in school in Hamilton, his heart and soul was focused on two things: football during the school year and life at Onondaga Camp during the summer, where his favorite activity was canoe tripping, especially in Algonquin Park. Jim spent many precious years at Onondaga, first as a camper, subsequently as a counsellor, and ultimately on the board of directors. Another life-long passion of Jim’s was fishing. It started when, after camp each year, he accompanied his parents to a lodge on Lake of Two Rivers, and all three would spend a couple of weeks fishing.

In 1945, following in his father’s footsteps, Jim entered medical school at the University of Toronto. After graduating in 1951, and completing residencies in Cincinnati and Boston, Jim was invited to join The Hospital for Sick Children, first as a senior resident and then as the chief resident. In 1965, Jim accepted a full-time position at SickKids where he started the pediatric rheumatology program and went on to act as the director of the pediatric residency training program.
Throughout this intensive medical training, Jim dated the love of his life, Joan Dauphinee and they were married on May 24, 1958. Joan and Jim had three sons, Tom, Charlie, and Peter. Jim fully shared his passion for the outdoors with his family, especially at a water-access cottage on Chandos Lake, just north of Peterborough. The kids would spend the month of July at the cottage and then the month of August at Onondaga Camp, giving Joan a much-needed break from the chaos of three young boys.

Meanwhile, as a member of the board of directors for Onondaga Camp, Jim met the trailblazing recreational canoeist Eric Morse, who inspired him to organize a canoe expedition down the Hanbury and Thelon Rivers in the Canadian Arctic. This journey covered hundreds of kilometers of demanding whitewater and involved navigating ice-choked stretches of several vast lakes before concluding in the Inuit community of Baker Lake. In 1969, this was a truly epic undertaking, and its legacy still inspires a spirit of exploration and adventure within his family and friends today.
In 1973, Jim accepted a position as Chair of the Department of Pediatrics and Chief Physician at War Memorial Children’s Hospital in London Ontario, which he held for 20 years. He was a highly effective and respected chair, who assembled a team of outstanding physicians and researchers. He proudly led the creation of an independent pediatric emergency service and founded the Children’s Health Research Institute. Despite this remarkable level of commitment, Jim still found time to paddle several northern Canadian rivers with close friends, including the Coppermine, Nahanni, and Hood.
When Jim and Joan retired, they remained in London and enjoyed summers at their cottage in Bayfield, Ontario. Jim took up fly fishing and he spent countless hours both in the Bayfield area and on many other rivers in Canada. An annual event became a trip to the Elk River near Fernie, BC, often with Joan, family, and friends. Jim made his last float, dry fly fishing for Elk River cutthroat trout at age 97. He also immersed himself in competitive croquet as an avid member of the Bayfield International Croquet Club. Both Jim and Joan deeply valued the support and companionship of their many friends in the Bayfield community during their retirement years.

Jim always remained a wonderful partner for Joan, especially after she developed dementia in later life, it was heartwarming to see him take such loving and patient care of her. After Joan’s passing, Jim deeply valued the support and companionship of his many friends in the Bayfield community. Jim’s enthusiasm for life was infectious; he devoted himself to education, medicine, family, and friends, and took particular delight in time spent in the outdoors. Jim will be profoundly missed by his three boys, Thomas (Renée), Charles (Erica) and Peter (Amy); his grandchildren, Hannah (Maitland), Kyle (Amy), Claire (Philippe), Spencer, Jocelyne, Jonathan, Alexander and Caroline; and his five great-grandchildren.

Arrangements entrusted with A. Millard George Funeral Home, 519-433-5184. Online condolences, memories and photographs shared at www.amgfh.com. The family is planning to have a private celebration of life, this summer. Donations can be made to the Children’s Health Foundation or the Canadian Canoe Museum.