John Fraser Cruikshank

CRUICKSHANK, John F. (Jack) – passed away peacefully at the Halifax Infirmary on Thursday, October 6, 2011. Jack, a well known businessman was born in Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia in 1932, the only son of the late Captain Jack and Margaret (Macaulay). His family moved to Jollimore when Jack was 11 years old where he grew up skating on the Frog Pond which led to his love of hockey at Queen Elizabeth High and with the Saint Mary’s Juniors Hockey Team. He was the Head Boy at the Halifax Vocational School (NSCC) and Junior Commodore of the Armdale Yacht Club where he spent many happy hours sailing competitively with Bernice and Alex Guildford. Jack was a keen curler at the Mayflower Curling Club and an avid golfer. He was a member at both Ashburn and Isla Del Sol Golf and Country Club in Florida where he was Club Champion in 1992. Jack was a co-founder of CFDR Radio Station in Dartmouth, a member of the Board of Directors of Air Canada, the United States Trotting Association and President of the National Association of Canadian Race Tracks. He was perhaps best known for operating Sackville Downs Raceway for over 30 years. Jack was always very involved supporting charity works. He served as Director of Rainbow Haven for 32 years and through Sackville Downs raised money for many local charities. After his retirement, he founded the Turkey Club, a charity which supports the less fortunate at Christmas. Jack was fondly known as “the Head Turkey” by his many friends. Jack was a lifelong Liberal with an abiding love of politics. He was Federal Campaign Manager for Nova Scotia and served on the National Campaign Committee for Prime Ministers Lester B. Pearson and Pierre Trudeau. Jack is survived by his wife, June (Hoadley), his daughters Lynn (William) McRae, Halifax and Vancouver and Christine (Kevin) Andrews; grandchildren Nicholas and Katherine Andrews, Toronto; sister Elsie Jollimore and several nieces and nephews.

Arrangements are entrusted to J.A. Snow Funeral Home, 339 Lacewood Dr., Halifax (902) 455-0531. Funeral Service will be held at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, 3 Dakin Drive (corner of Bedford Hwy and Kearney Lake Road) on Tuesday, October 11th at 2pm. Reception to follow at the church. Burial at a later date.

Family flowers only. If so desired, memorials may be directed to St. Peter’s Anglican Church, 3 Dakin Drive, Halifax B3M 2C9 or to the ALS Society (www.alsns.ca). Please visit: www.jasnowfuneralhome.com