At age 95, Edmund Boyd died peacefully, surrounded by his family. Born in River Bourgeois October 20, 1924, he died in Halifax on November 10, 2019. He was the last surviving member of the family of D.D. and Katharine (Kate McIsaac) Boyd. Following his early school years at “the River” and Antigonish, he entered St. Mary’s College High School where he was the recipient of the last medal for Irish History awarded by the Christian Brothers of Ireland. Further studies at Saint Mary’s College ended with a Bachelor of Arts in 1944. A year later he received a Bachelor of Education from St. Francis Xavier University. After several years in the classroom in Nova Scotia and Montreal, he left for France to teach and study at the universities of Grenoble and Paris (Sorbonne). While at Grenoble he was a member of the university chorale that represented France in the Annual Eisteddfod Music Festival in Wales. Returning to Canada, he began his university teaching career, first at Saint Mary’s, and later as a member of the Dalhousie French Department from which he retired after 30 years. During his time at Dal, he spent a sabbatical year at the University of Salamanca, Spain, and attended summer sessions at Universidad Iberoamericana Ciudad de Mexico. For fourteen summers, under the auspices of The Experiment in International Living (now World Learning Inc.), he led groups of North American university students to countries in Europe, to Japan, and to Australia. Subsequent travels took him took to the Far and Middle East, South America, and the Caribbean. During his travels he picked up facts and stories which he wove into his classes and general conversation, making him a consummate raconteur. He also made many friends around the world with whom he kept in touch. Edmund taught hundreds of students over the years and met and worked with many people during his adult life, and he remembered them all and kept in touch with them by letter, postcard, and phone. Those who knew him were always impressed by his memory for people and events, as well as his prodigious supply of appropriate quotes. Wherever he went he met people he knew and he greeted them by name. His insatiable curiosity for life was never satisfied. A true gentleman, he asked all the right questions to put others at ease. While teaching at university, he was an instructor in French at L’Alliance Française, at CFB Stadacona, Holy Heart Seminary, New Options School, and the Université d’Aix en Provence. He served as President of L’Alliance Française. A lifelong tennis player, skier, and figure skater, he also served as President of the Halifax Skating Club. In recognition of his more than 25 years of judging tests and competitions, in 2017, he was one of the first inductees into the Nova Scotia Figure Skating Hall of Fame. He was a Council Member of the Royal Commonwealth Society and helped to organize Secondary School seminars on the Commonwealth. Edmund was an active member of the St. F. X. Alumni Association and the SMU Alumni Association and was recently honoured for his 75th year of graduation from Saint Mary’s. He was also an enthusiastic member of the Black and Gold Club at Dalhousie University. He participated in amateur theatricals with the Theatre Arts Guild. A life-long Roman Catholic, Edmund was a lector and usher at Canadian Martyrs Parish.
He was predeceased by his sister, Eileen Donahoe (Richard), brothers, Arthur (Lorraine), Donald (Leona), and Colin Francis. He is survived by several first cousins, nieces and nephews, and numerous grand-nieces and grand-nephews. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him for his good humour and wit, his integrity and civility, and his generosity and loving spirit.
Donations in Edmund’s memory may be made to Feed Nova Scotia or to a charity of choice. Wake will be held at Cruikshank’s Halifax Funeral Home, 2666 Windsor Street on Wednesday, November 13, from 3-5 and 7-9. Funeral will be held at St. Agnes Church, 6903 Mumford Road, on Thursday, November 14, 2019 at 10 AM.
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