Obituary of Juan Ramirez Soto

Juan Bautista Edgardo Soto Ramirez passed away peacefully at St. Catharines General Hospital on November 23, 2021, just days shy of his 95th birthday.
Ex-husband to LaVaun Labertew, stepfather of Bryce (Laurel) Allen, Gregory Soto (Judith Calvin); father to Cristina, Juan Paul (Atsuko Fukamizu); ex-husband to Susan Graham, father of Julio Soto (Amanda LaPointe). Cherished Grandfather to Trent and Reid Allen, Stefan and Larkin Soto; Issey, Mirei and Louis Soto Fukamizu. Missed by nephew Sergio (Wendy) Soto and friend Nadia Huml here in St. Catharines and loved ones in Canada and Chile.
Juan grew up in Temuco, Chile with seven dear brothers and sisters, all of whom passed before him, including Mario (Bernardita) and Claudio (Silvia) who joined him in Canada. He studied Biochemistry and Pharmacy at the University of Chile. After finishing graduate studies in the US (Kansas State and Purdue Universities), he met his wife LaVaun in Des Moines, Iowa. He came to St. Catharines in 1964 with LaVaun and 3 children to take up a job as head of clinical chemistry at the General Hospital. One of the first Latinos in Niagara, Juan taught Spanish night classes at the St. Catharines Collegiate; and entertained friends and family into his 90s by singing and playing South American songs. He founded Queenston Medical Laboratories (QML) in 1971 where he worked with friends and colleagues Dr. Roger Brook and Janet Boxall, and a large staff of wonderful people.
Juan instilled a passion for nature, music, and learning in his children (3 of whom are teachers). He loved to go for walks especially collecting rocks at Charles Daley Park, and to sail; he was a member of Dalhousie Yacht Club for many years. QML was a proud sponsor of the St. Catharines Symphony and Niagara Youth Orchestra, and Juan could frequently be heard cheering “Bravo!” at their concerts.
Right through his 80s, he could be seen riding his bicycle or walking along Hartzel Road and having coffee with his buddies at Tim Horton’s.
The family would like to thank the staff at Linhaven--especially in the Henley wing--for their heartfelt care, and support.
Essentials Cremation and Burial Services has been entrusted with arrangements (905-354-2133). Cremation has taken place. A visitation at Essentials (Niagara Falls) will be held on Monday, November 29th from 6:30-8:30 PM (proof of vaccination and masks are required). A celebration of life will take place on December 17th at Silver Spire Church, St. Catharines at 6:30 PM. Memorial donations to the Niagara Escarpment Foundation or the Niagara Symphony Orchestra would be appreciated by the family. Online condolences may be shared to Juan Soto 's tribute page found at EssentialsNiagara.com.