Lieutenant Colonel John Gerard Brackenridge Strathy, CD was born in Toronto on 8 January 1934, son of Colonel James Gowan Kirkpatrick Strathy and Catherine Millard Cockburn. He was educated at Trinity College School, Port Hope (1945-1952) and Jarvis Collegiate Institute, Toronto.

He married Eleanor Jane Thorton and had two sons and a daugther.

He followed his father’s, uncle’s, and grandfather’s footsteps by joining The Queen’s Own Rifles in 1952 as an Officer Cadet, and then served two years in the Canadian Officers Training Corps. Strathy continued to serve in the regiment, eventually qualifying as a Major in 1964, after which he was promoted to Field Officer and Company Commander.

He completed the Militia Staff Course in 1967 and was appointed Commanding Officer and promoted Lieutenant Colonel on 9 October 1979.  He relinquished command 16 February 1972 and retired.

John died on 28 July 2011 in Toronto and is buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto.