John Rutherford Dick

DICK, John Rutherford - John Dick died peacefully in the early hours of January 15th, 2018. The son of the late Eric and Jessie (Rutherford) Dick, he was predeceased by his wife of fifty years, Mary Patricia MacLean, his beloved Patsy. He is survived by his sons, Alan (Catherine), Matthew (Sarah), Andrew; his grandsons, David and Liam; his sister, Barbara Flewelling (David); brothers-in-law, Guy MacLean (Judy) and Dick MacLean (Kirsten).

John was born Sept 28, 1936, and he spent a fondly remembered childhood living in Shelburne and Bridgewater. He also spent idyllic summers on his uncle's farm in Stewiacke. After graduating early from high school, John attended Dalhousie and Tech where he earned a degree in civil engineering. John worked for several years as an engineer, most notably on the Wreck Cove Power Project, but after a few years in the woods, he decided it was time for an office. He went to Western University where he joined an excellent group of students and earned his MBA. Upon returning to Halifax, happily married to Patsy, he worked for FBDB for several years before accepting the position as Vice President of RoyNat, in charge of the Atlantic region, a position he loved and held until his retirement in 1994.

A fiercely proud Nova Scotian, John selflessly volunteered and worked for many community and professional organizations, such as APENS, the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, and the NS Historical Society. John was a trustee for Fort Massey United Church and, upon retirement, he served as Chairman of the Halifax Water Commission where his engineering and financial background was put to excellent use. John earned a reputation in Halifax for his intelligence, kindness and generosity.

Upon retirement, John immersed himself fully in the loves of his life: sailing his boat Moby on the Northwest Arm, expanding and harvesting his incredible waterfront garden, spending many happy days at his cottage on the Bras D'Or Lakes, skating with his many friends, spending cold winter months in Longboat Key walking the beach collecting shells, and being the primary caregiver for his wife Patsy, at home, until the day she died. His commitment and dedication to his family, his community and his wife will never be forgotten and stand as a testament to the decent, honourable, hard-working and loving man John was. May he rest in peace, after a life well lived, with no regrets. He is loved and missed by all.

A memorial service conducted by The Reverend Trent Cleveland-Thompson will be held at Fort Massey United Church, corner of Queen and Tobin Streets, on Saturday, January 20th, at 2 pm. Visitation will be Thursday, January 18th, 6–8 pm, at Snow's Funeral Home, 339 Lacewood Drive, Clayton Park. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer's Society or the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Atlantic Division would be gratefully appreciated.