Karl Ramsay Conrad

These words, his last delivered with that familiar warm smile and his ever reliable sense of humour that every person who is lucky enough to have known him would recognize, came only after assuring each of us of his love. Karl's trademarks were always a wide, genuine smile the moment you arrived that let you know you were a truly welcomed guest, a hearty and infectious belly laugh and an unforgettable sense of humour he was always happy to share.

Then, his ready tears when something affected him deeply and the trait that defined him to the end; gentle acceptance of the inevitable, as if indulging in despair was a waste of time if it were to last for longer than the moment he deemed necessary for intellectual absorption.

Born and raised in Port Wallace, Karl lived his entire life in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Karl attended Prince Andrew High School where he played football as an offensive guard and was co-captain of his team when they won a championship in the early sixties. Following high school, Karl went to work for DND at the Bedford Magazine, then transferred to the Dockyard in Halifax. There, working shift work allowed him to realize a goal inspired by his beloved late mother, that of going to university. He achieved a Bachelor of Arts degree by attending St. Mary's University part-time. He chose the Liberal Arts program so that he could study a wide variety of his interests including literature, political history, economics, sociology and psychology, even astronomy.

He enjoyed participating in various curling and bowling league tournaments which indirectly led to meeting his wife and partner of 43 years, and his step-daughter who was just three years old at the time. Karl accepted his step-daughter as his own right from the start. He and she developed a special bond quickly that lasted throughout the years. They had a lot in common and he was the Yang parent to her mother's Yin. He was there whenever his family needed him.

He was a responsible, fun and loving parent and husband. Karl's siblings have always been very important to him. The five of them were each other's family when both of their parents passed away very early in their lives, although years apart. This unfortunate circumstance was the catalyst that birthed an exceptionally close and beautiful relationship between each of them and all of them as a whole. Throughout the entirety of Karl's life, his family, both original and acquired, were the most central entity in his life. One of the things that bonded them was their collective love for football. Karl was a lifelong football fan as were/are all of his siblings.

Football season among the Conrad siblings was/is as largely celebrated as Christmas, and filled with hilarious rivalry as each rallied and bragged and cheered for opposing lifetime favourite teams (Karl's being the San Francisco 49ers). Even "fantasy football" was a source of rivalry and great fun that Karl shared with his immediate and extended family stretching across Canada and into the US. His fantasy football team (Karl’s Niners) are the reigning champs of his family fantasy football league.

Despite the physically limiting nature of Parkinson's disease which emerged later in Karl's life, thankfully it did not negatively affect his intellectual ability, and his curiosities always led him to yet another book. He was a prolific reader of all things political, from Canadian to European to Asian political history to biographies of influential government figures in Canada and around the world. His interest in biographies introduced him to influential figures in sports. This led Karl to further develop his interests. In addition to unwaivering devotion to football (SF49ers), his interest in professional sports grew to include hockey (Habs), basketball (Raptors), baseball (Red Sox) and European-style soccer.

His musical interests were equally broad and deep, from the likes of "Oh Danny Boy", his mother's favourite, to country, gospel, R&B, folk, disco, some hard rock, and in latter days, even rap. This inclusive fondness of music complemented the great love of literature he had. Both were instilled in him and shared by his late mother who introduced him at an early age to Victorian literature via Dickens' "David Copperfield". He later passed on these great passions to his baby sister and then his step-daughter, both of whom are forever grateful for such a gift. When it came to rock'n'roll, Karl was always ready to jive!

Many a Sunday afternoon (before Parkinson's stole his best moves) you could find him and his wife dancing at the Micmac Aquatic Club to the live music of Johnny Gold. (Other weekends, you might have found him at Sackville Downs or Truro Raceway supporting the harness-racing industry with modest bets on the likes of drivers Romo, Campbell and Laffin.) Family always came first for Karl, he was so very proud of the abilities and endeavours of his family but particularly the youngsters -- his step-daughter, nieces and nephews, grandchildren, grandnieces and grandnephews, as they grew from infancy through adulthood.

For those who were not family, but friends, you were just as fortunate as if you were. Karl valued his friends deeply and even if years passed between visits, he never forgot you and was always so genuinely happy to see you. "Still waters run deep" truely did apply to Karl; all the time thinking, rarely offering an opinion unless asked, but so perceptive, and always caring for his family. His life ended as he lived it, with love of family in his heart, acceptance of his lot, a smile, and a touch of humour, no matter the gravity of his situation.

Special thanks to Sue Bent and Shaun Gentile, professional homecare workers who each and separately uniquely provided him with several years of exceptional care, and each of whom brought so much laughter and love into Karl's life and home. Special thanks also to doctors, nurses and ward staff at Willow Hall and Camp Hill 5West with special mention of the recreation staff at each residence, who kept the hope and laughter in his daily life especially during his long term care.

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CONRAD, Karl Ramsay, age 76, passed away unexpectedly following brief illness and surrounded by family, on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, at Camp Hill VMB. Predeceased by parents, Helen Bernice (Ramsay) of Wittenburg and Carl Ross Conrad of Cole Harbour, and brother Mike (Linda). Karl is survived by his wife, Sharon (Chisholm) Conrad (previously Hill), step-daughter Heidi (Hill) Thompson (Chris Jarvis), grandchildren Jesse and Lily Thompson, brothers Paul (Joan) and Laurie (Connie), sister Mary Elizabeth Raymond (Pius), sister-in-law Linda Bennett, nieces Bernice, Anne and Jocelyn, nephews Sean, Nolan and Danny, grandnieces Amelia, Madeline, and Leni, grandnephews Sam, Calvin, Cameron and Jack, and additional extended family.

Donations are encouraged to be made in Karl's memory to the QEII Foundation by visiting

https://my.qe2foundation.ca/donations or by calling (902) 334-1546. Please specify Karl's name when donating to ensure your donation will be allocated to the correct fund created to honour Karl's wishes, thank you in advance.

Funeral service will be held March 19 by invitation only due to covid and space restrictions and will be led by Rev. Ivan Gregan. Please contact Mattatall's to request information if you wish to attend Karl's funeral service virtually via webinar.