The Canadian Congenital Heart Alliance is deeply saddened to share that one of its early presidents – and a congenital heart trailblazer – John MacEachern recently died in Middleton, NS, at age 84 (perhaps a CHD record?). John was larger than life: he lived richly, surrounded by family and friends, rooted in community, and driven by both professional ambition and artistic passion.

John’s remarkable story began with a grim tetralogy of Fallot diagnosis in 1941. Thanks to his parents’ fierce determination (and a measure of luck), they found a surgeon willing and able to perform a novel surgery to help save his life. Dr. Gordon Murray – whom they met at a dinner party – performed Canada’s first Blalock-Thomas-Taussig shunt, and only the third worldwide, on four-year-old John at SickKids hospital in Toronto. Dr. Murray had only recently learned this groundbreaking procedure from Dr. Blalock at Johns Hopkins. The BTT shunt, a palliative surgery that increases blood flow to the lungs, gave “blue babies” like John, and many hundreds of thousands after, the chance to grow strong enough for later open-heart surgery.

John embraced that second chance fully. In his twenties, he earned a degree in Hospitality and Hotel Management from Cornell University and went on to hold management roles at several iconic Canadian institutions: The Royal York in Toronto, The Banff Springs and Chateau Lake Louise in Alberta, The Doctor’s House in Kleinburg, ON, and The Captain’s House in Chester, NS. He was widely loved as a leader, colleague, and friend. In 1971 he married Barbara, and together they raised four wonderful children.

After retiring, John and Barbara relocated from Kleinburg, to Middleton, NS, where he rediscovered his love of painting and took up fiction writing. He published two mystery novels – The Hatrick Murders and The Blood of Art – along with short stories and screenplays. He also became deeply involved in local theatre and his church community.

John stood apart for his passion, creativity, and tireless advocacy. As Chair and President of the Canadian Congenital Heart Alliance from 2007 to 2011, he championed countless initiatives: organizing a successful movie-night fundraiser at SickKids (screening the HBO film Something the Lord Made), coordinating meetings with Heart & Stroke to elevate awareness of CHD needs, taking on the International Olympic Committee over a lawsuit regarding the torch in our logo (his interview on CFRB crashed the IOC website with angry callers) and forging lasting partnerships with the CHD medical community.

Despite many health challenges, John lived exceptionally well with congenital heart disease. He was a living legend and a generous supporter of all who followed in his footsteps. His wish was always the same: that others with CHD might thrive as he did.

Obituary: https://www.middletonfuneralhome.com/obituary/john-maceachern

Attached find a newspaper record from 1945 about John’s early lifesaving surgery.