John Harold Parsons

Dad passed away peacefully on April 12, with family by his side. He was born in Sydney and spent his formative years there. He married Linda (nee Logan) and they raised their children in Dartmouth, then Lunenburg.

Dad earned his Chief Engineer’s ticket at a young age, working on many ships with the Coast Guard and the Bedford Institute of Oceanography (BIO), including a notable voyage on the Hudson in 1972, which was the first ship to circumnavigate the Americas. Work then took the family to Lunenburg, where Dad worked with Scotia Trawler as a Shore Engineer. He later purchased and operated Lunenburg Electric but eventually returned to BIO and became Superintendent of the Fleet.

Upon retirement he again took to the ocean on the sloop Paradox, this time in the Caribbean, spending some of the happiest years of his life. In his 70’s, he became an avid bridge player where he met many lovely friends. Throughout it all, Dad was surrounded by a large, loving, extended family.

He will be deeply missed by his children Shelly (Roger), Halifax, Cindy (Doug), Halifax, Phil (Anna), Hamilton, Jenny (Troy), Kitchener, Beth (David), Kanata, grandchildren Jason (Julia), Matthew, Toby, Amelia, Ariel, Sam, Carter, Ben, and Poppy, great-grandchildren Jordan, Jesse and Jade. He is also survived by his sisters Loretta and Cathy (Paul). He was predeceased by his daughter Paula (Joe), his infant daughter Beth , his father Harold, his mother Annie, his sister Shirley, his brother Kenneth, and his partner Joan Daneau, who was his mate on the Paradox.

A memorial gathering will be held in May. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia.

So hoist up the John B's sail

See how the mainsail sets

Call for the captain ashore

Let me go home...

I wanna go home