Mark Thompson

THOMPSON, Mark – 79, of Halifax, passed away February 29, 2012. Born in1932 on Walney Island, near Barrow-in-Furness, England. Mark was the only child of Mark Sr. and his wife Evelyn (Salterwath). Upon graduation at 16, Mark began an apprenticeship in Liverpool as a Marine Engine Fitter, and upon completion, joined the Merchant Navy as a Marine Engine Officer travelling to exotic ports around the world. In Halifax he met and married the love of his life Elsie (Smith) with whom he shared many happy years. Later he would work for Company Foundation Maritime putting to sea in salvage tugs in the roughest weather. From the time he was a young man, Mark enjoyed many, many adventures on the sea. From sailing with the “Bounty” to Tahiti for the filming of the movie “Mutiny on the Bounty”, staring Marlon Brando (who asked Mark and ensured he received his favourite tobacco), to sailing through Canada’s frozen north, to listening to Che Guevara and Castro fighting in the hills while his ship harboured in Cuba. Mark readily embraced new technology and following his retirement, bought and learned how to use a computer. He was a voracious reader, collected movies, took up painting, and built a scale model of the “Bounty” and tasted (and rated) Fish and Chips in just about every place you could think of while on vacation with Art and Lorraine! Mark was a 32 Degree Mason and a member of good standing of the Royal Sussex Lodge #6 and the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. Mark was very active in his church at St. Margaret of Scotland where he was a Lay Reader and served as past Warden. Mark was a wonderfully kind, honourable human being who touched the lives of many. His generosity knew no boundaries. We will miss his presence in our lives. Mark was predeceased by his wife, Elsie (Smith). He is survived by his brother-in-law Art, to whom Mark was a mentor and a kind and loving father figure instrumental in shaping Arts life, sister-in-law Lorraine (Seward), niece Julie (Kevin), nephew Jeff (Erin), extended family and friends. Special thanks to the gentle care and loving visits shown to Mark by Reverend Dianne Parker, the nurses at the QEII 4.1 Vascular Unit, the N.S. Rehab Center, Church and Lodge friends. At Mark’s wishes, cremation has taken place. Visitation to be held from 2-4 & 6-8pm Sunday, March 4th at J.A. Snow Funeral Home, 339 Lacewood Dr., Halifax. Church service at 11:00am Monday, March 5th at St. Margaret of Scotland, 3751 Robie Street, Halifax, Reverend Dianne Parker officiating. Donations in Mark’s name may be made to St. Margaret of Scotland Church.

“I must go down to the sea again

to the lonely sea and sky,

and all I ask is a tall ship

and a star to steer her by”