Allan Garfield Conrod

It is with heavy hearts that the family of Allan Conrod, wish to announce his recent passing, peacefully in his sleep, at age 90, of natural causes. He was a man of strength and of peace, of duty and of joy, of courage and kindness. Born on John Street in Halifax in 1925, Dad was the son of Herbert and Beatrice (Misener) Conrod. Throughout his life he never forgot his modest roots, growing up in the north end, attending Chebucto Road School and Bloomfield High, and was in the first graduation class of Queen Elizabeth High School in 1942.

He spent early years on the Halifax Commons, skating on the egg pond and playing baseball with his childhood friends and became a cadet sergeant in the R.C.A.C. Dad worked at Withrow’s Pharmacy on Gottingen Street and delivered prescriptions via bicycle after school. With determination and drive, and finishing 5 years of correspondence through Queen’s University he obtained his degree as a Chartered Accountant.

“Young peoples” at Trinity Anglican Church on Cogswell Street, was his social activity back in the early 1940’s, and while deeply rooted in faith, met his soul mate and wife to be, Jean MacKenzie. A borrowed vehicle took them to PEI for their honeymoon in 1950. St James Anglican Church at the Armdale rotary became the family church, where he worshipped regularly until just last month. He was active in the church choir and acted as Treasurer for many years. During summer months at the family cottage, he attended St Stephen’s in Chester.

Early years as a CA involved travelling to various clients throughout Nova Scotia, for accounting, auditing, and tax work. He purchased the firm in 1957 and grew it to 7 partners and renamed it Piers, Conrod, and Allen, with senior partner J Keith Allen. He provided many years of competent advice to many clients in the medical profession, as well as entrepreneurs with growing businesses. His firm eventually merged with Doane Raymond, now known as Grant Thornton. Allan was honoured in 2003 as a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants (FCA).

He exhibited tremendous resolve in life, with a serious eye injury in the mid 1960’s to an almost fatal car accident in 1989.

Dad always led by example and provided strong community leadership to many organizations. He was involved with the University of King’s College for at least 25 years on the Board of Governors and served as Honourary Treasurer, offering crucial advice to the Board. He was awarded an Honourary Fellowship in 1987. He cherished his wonderful friends he met while an active member of the Halifax Kiwanis Club, and served as president in 1967. He was an engaged board member and was president of the Saraguay Club in 1986, prior to their amalgamation with the RNSYS. A music lover, he was on the original planning committee in 1970, to what is now the Nova Scotia Kiwanis Music Festival, and served on their board for many years. He was one of the original founders of Oakfield Golf and Country Club, and our family enjoyed the club for several decades.

Dad’s strong Anglican upbringing provided a sense of duty to provide sought after advice to the Diocese of NS and PEI. He served on various committees and acted as a consultant to several Bishops over the years. He provided time to the Metropolitan Dispensary Society for 37 years and served as Chair of their board. Bonny Lea Farm (South Shore Community Service Association) was one of his favorite charities in his latter years, providing direction to Dr Alberta Pew Baker and the Board.

He was a long standing member of the Halifax Club and the Waegwoltic Club. Both Mom and Dad enjoyed entertaining and playing in various bridge groups over the years, making lifelong friendships. They enjoyed extensive travel and especially Siesta Key, FLA after tax season.

Dad was blessed with a loving family. He is survived by his sons Peter Toronto, Ont.;, Paul (Patty), Halifax; Glenn (Jennifer)Toronto, Ont.; and daughter Karen (Myles Robertson) Whitby, Ont. His children were also his friends and he was very proud of them all. He loved and honored them in return, as he did his 10 grandchildren: Andrew, Meredith, Daniel, Beth, Dara, Jill, Cailean, Tyler, Bryden and Spencer. He was predeceased by his wife of 55 years, Jean, in 2005; by his first son, David, in 1954, and his brother Ken, and sisters Marion and Nina, in recent years.

He supported all of his children and grandchildren in their various activities, sporting events, educational pursuits and their careers. He was a role model, father, grandfather, and friend. Family gatherings for birthdays, and holidays, were special moments for Dad, highlighted by all his family together last summer for his 90th birthday party. Always a man of faith and a true gentleman, he rarely criticized, and often said, “If you can’t say something nice about a person, don’t say anything at all”.

Special thanks to the kind staff at Parkland Bradford and Drummond Halls, for their wonderful care in his autumn years.

A visitation will be held at J.A. Snow’s Funeral Home, 339 Lacewood Drive Halifax on Thursday, June 23rd from 5:00 – 7:30PM. A memorial service will be held at St James Church at the Armdale Rotary at 11AM on Friday June 24th, officiated by Rev. Rachel Parker. Reception to follow in the church hall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice.