John George Ashley

1929 - 2008  (79 years)

• Name	John George Ashley
  Born	1929	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  Gender	Male
  FindAGrave	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/176684125
  Residence	1973	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  Hall of Fame - Cambridge	1997	Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Died	5 Jan 2008	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  Hall of Fame - Waterloo Region	Bef 2012	, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-145654
  Person ID	I145654	Generations
  Last Modified	3 Mar 2025

  
  

  Father	Wesley Buffin Ashley,   b. 24 Nov 1895, Wiarton, Amabel Twp., Bruce Co., Ontario, Canada ,   d. 1979  (Age 83 years)
  Mother	Margaret Christina Fink,   b. 31 Jul 1905, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 23 Oct 1973, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 68 years)
  Married	7 Sep 1927	Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4, 5]
  Family ID	F251977	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos		John G. Ashely
  		John G. Ashley

  
  

• Notes

  John Ashley was born in Galt and lived in Preston until Grade 12. John played minor hockey in Preston, later he played for the Toronto Marlboros and the Guelph Biltmores. Ashley signed a contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1950, and in the ensuing three years, played for their Pittsburgh farm team in the AHL. Ashley sought and gained reinstatement as an amateur in 1954. He then played three years with Stratford in Senior A hockey. Ashley became interested in officiating in 1957. By 1959 he signed a contract to officiate in the NHL. Ashley spent eighteen years in the NHL - thirteen as a referee and five as a scout and councillor to referees. Ashley refereed 1075 games. Of this, 622 were regular NHL games and fifty-eight were NHL play-off games. In the last eight of his thirteen on ice seasons Ashley was rated the NHL's number one referee. Ashley's overall record in Stanley Cup play-offs was one of high quality performance, under sustained pressure, over a period of ten years. On September 15, 1981, John Ashley was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Waterloo Region Hall of Fame List of Hall of Fame inductees (2023). Available at: https://regionofwaterloomuseums.ca/en/visit/list-of-hall-of-fame-inductees.aspx (Accessed: 4 September 2023). ___________________________________ JOHN G. ASHLEY 1930 - 2008 At St. Mary's Hospital, Kitchener on Saturday, January 5, 2008 in his 78th year. Loving husband of June Ashley (nee Millman) for 56 years. Devoted father of Kristine Bailey and her husband, Dennis and Tom Ashley and his wife Cindy. Lovingly remembered by his grandchildren, Julie Bailey and her husband Adam, Tom Bailey, Sami, Wes and Zac Ashley. Survived by his brother, Doug Ashley. Predeceased by his parents, Wesley and Margaret Ashley as well as his sister, Pat Ashley. John Ashley was born in Galt and lived in Preston. John played minor hockey in Preston, later he played for the Toronto Marlboros and the Guelph Biltmores. By 1959 he signed a contract to officiate in the NHL. He spent eighteen years in the NHL, thirteen as a referee and five as a scout and counsellor to referees. John refereed 1,075 games. Of this, 622 were regular NHL games and fifty-eight were NHL play-off games. In the last eight of his thirteen on-ice seasons, Ashley was rated the NHL's number one referee. On September 15, 1981, John Ashley was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Friends are invited to share their memories of John with his family during visitation at the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home , 171 King St. S., Waterloo, on Tuesday, January 8, 2008 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. The Funeral Service to celebrate John's life will be held in the Chapel of the funeral home on Wednesday, January 9, 2008 at 1 p.m. Reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations in John's memory may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, the Canadian Diabetes Association, or Grand River Hospital- COPD Clinic and can be arranged through the funeral home, 519-745-8445 or www.erbgood.com. In living memory of John, a tree will be planted through the Trees for Learning Program by the funeral home. The Record 8 Jan 2008

  
  

• Sources

  [S490] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - The Record (1994-March 2008), Obituary of John G. Ashley - 8 Jan 2008. [S2004] News - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Cambridge Daily Reporter, Obituary of Mrs. Wesley Ashley - 23 Oct 1973. [S220] Waterloo Region Hall of Fame Waterloo Region Hall of Fame. [S721] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration, marriage certificate 21716 (1927), Ashley-Fink. 27 Wesley Buffin Ashley, 31, Merchant, Wiarton, Preston, son of John Buffin Ashley (b. Freefolk Hampshire England) and Martha Sophia Winkler Married Margaret Christine Fink, 22, Household Duties, Preston, Preston, daughter of George Fink (b. Waterloo) and Mary Elizabeth Branni, Witn: Charles and Anita Talbot Both of Preston, 7 September 1927 in Preston [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration. Name:Margaret Christina Fink Age:22 Birth Date:abt 1905 Birth Place:Priston Marriage Date:7 Sep 1927 Marriage County or District:Waterloo Father:George Fink Mother:Mary Elizabeth Brauns Spouse:Wesley Buffin Ashley Spouse's Age:31 Spouse Birth Date:abt 1896 Spouse Birth Place:Wiarton, Ontario Spouse Father:John Buffin Ashley Spouse Mother:Martha Sophia Winkler

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 1929 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - 1973 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Hall of Fame - Cambridge - 1997 - Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 5 Jan 2008 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Hall of Fame - Waterloo Region - Bef 2012 - , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth