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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
MacLEOD, John Trites - It is with great sadness that the family of John MacLeod announces his death, which occurred on January 22, 2014. John T., as he was known to many, was born in Sydney, to the late John A. and Jessie (MacLeod) MacLeod. John joined the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) in 1956 and became a member of the Naval Air Branch where he trained as an aircraft technician, serving with VS 880 and V U 32 Squadrons, and on HMCS Bonaventure and Annapolis and later at Maritime Air Group Headquarters. He rose to the rank of Chief Petty Officer before his retirement from the Navy in 1983; later working in the engineering department of IMP Aerospace for 10 years, and then serving briefly as a member of the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires at the Canadian Forces Armament Depot in Bedford. John enjoyed playing badminton, basketball and track but the sport he was truly enthusiastic about was sailing, to which he was introduced at the early age of 13, by his brother, King, leading to a lifelong passion for racing at the local, national, and international levels. He first crewed with Art Rooney, winning the Canadian Snipe Championships in 1956 and later with Harry Henderson winning the Western Hemisphere Snipe Championships in 1958. After joining the RCN he was selected as a crewmember on the RCN Yawl 'Pickle' on which he participated in the Newport to Bermuda Ocean Races in 1958 and 1962, and the Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race in 1963. As well as being on the water, John enjoyed photography, woodworking, music, researching genealogy, and travel. He was a member of Woodlawn United Church, Kiwanis Club of Woodlawn, and over the years taught University Naval Training Division (UNTD) Cadets how to sail, was a Cub Leader of 1st Cole Harbour Pack, a member of the Canadian Forces Sailing Association (CFSA), Shearwater and Dartmouth Curling Clubs, and Canadian Naval Air Group (CNAG). John is survived by his wife, Shirley; sons, Rob (Brenda Daly) of Quispamsis, N.B.; Calum (Bev Bollong) of Guelph, Ont.; Rod (Suzan Park) of Ottawa, Ont.; grandchildren, Ian, Kyle, Michael, Hayley and Logan of Guelph and Quispamsis; sister, Sandy Callaghan of Hampton, N.B., and several nieces and nephews. John was predeceased by his parents; sister, Isabelle, and brothers, David, Russell, King, Roderick (Lefty), and John Alexander Jr. (in infancy). John and his family wish to thank the medical teams, support staff, and volunteers at the QEII Health Sciences Centre, for their tireless care and compassion. Visitation will be held in the Shearwater Aviation Museum, 34 Bonaventure St, Shearwater, NS (12 Wing Shearwater), on 24 January 2014 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. A memorial service to celebrate John’s life will be held at Woodlawn United Church, 54 Woodlawn Rd, Dartmouth on 25 January 2014 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Canadian Cancer Society, Heart & Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia, Woodlawn United Church Accessibility Fund, or the Shearwater Aviation Museum.
Ships served in: CNAV PICKLE - Crew member during the Bermuda Race in 1958 and 1962 and the Marblehead Race in 1963
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