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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
McKEE, Ian Fraser - It is with heavy hearts that we regretfully announce the unexpected passing of Ian Fraser McKee at the age of 93 on December 10th, 2024. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Johanne Elizabeth McKee (Zwicker); sons and daughters-in-law Andrew and Ching (Lai), Lexington, MA; Bruce and Shelly (Would), Kelowna, BC; James and Suzanne (Keizer), Bedford, NS; and Donna Ryan McKee, Halifax, NS; and brother Fraser McKee, Toronto. He was incredibly proud of all of his grandchildren – Jennifer, Carolyn, Matthew, Joshua, Nicholas, Alyssa, Ian and Simon. He was sorrowfully predeceased by his oldest son Christopher, his parents Clarence and Helen Fraser McKee and sister Carol Wishart.
Johanne has lost the love of her life after 68 years. My Dad adored mom, she was his greatest treasure and love, his best friend and confident, strongest supporter and most capable critic. Dad also loved his four boys, the wives they were blessed to meet, their extended families and especially his eight grandchildren – they all were a joy to him. And Dad was a great role model for us, a wonderful father, a fun-loving grandfather, proud naval officer, creative story-teller, mentor, scholar, sounding board, and friend.
Ian was born March 6, 1931 in Toronto and attended Bedford Park School and Upper Canada College. Summers were spent at the Fraser family cottage in Rustico, Pictou Landing after a four-day driving adventure from Ontario. Summers in Pictou were ideal. Shorts and bare feet. Dogs and fishing. Adventures with the Cantleys. It was here that Ian developed his love of the sea, enjoyment of sailing and simply messing about in boats.
Ian attended HMCS Royal Roads, outside Victoria, BC from 1948-1950 and college at HMCS Royal Roads in Victoria BC. It was here that he told us he developed important life and leadership skills, and formed life-long friendships with many of his term mates. He graduated in 1950 and began his 25-year active career in the Royal Canadian Navy. Ian served on nine HMC ships – HMCS ONTARIO, BEACON HILL, ANTIGONISH, MAGNIFICENT, WALLACEBERG, LAUZON, and ST. CROIX, and as Executive Office on HMCS OUTREMONT and ASSINIBOINE. He attended officer training in the UK; lead New Entry Training at HMCS Cornwallis; served at OIC Naval Management School (HMCS HOCHELAGA - Montreal), National Defence Headquarters (Ottawa), Maritime Warfare School – Surface Instructor (HMCS STADACONA - Halifax), and was a graduate of Canadian Forces Staff College (Toronto) and was a member of the Admiral’s Staff and Naval Reserve – HMCS STADACONA - Halifax.
One of Ian’s great early adventures was serving as the naval Aide-de-Camp for Vincent Massey, the Governor General of Canada from 1956-1958. As dad noted, the criteria to be an ADC were few - you needed to have completed your courses, be single, and own a dinner jacket. He checked all three. For the next two years Ian was the “fly on the wall” for visits of numerous politicians and leaders, including meeting a young, newly coronated Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip on royal tour. Dad recently told the story of the young Queen being particularly impressed with the spectacular fall colours of the crimson maple leaves outside the dining room window. As she precariously leaned out of the second-floor window for a closer look – as a good Canadian lad, Ian instinctively reached out and grabbed the belt at the back of her dress to prevent a fall –perhaps a violation of protocol?
It was while serving on HCMS Lauzon that Ian was lucky enough to be set up on a blind date with a lovely nutritionist from Lunenburg, Johanne Zwicker. A cocktail party on a submarine and dancing at the 1955 New Year’s Eve ball at Stadacona was the start of the their love affair that lasted for the next 69 years. Mom was so struck with the young naval officer that she told her mother the next day that “If he asked me to marry him – I’d say ‘Yes’.”
Ian and Johanne married May 18, 1958 and began their life together in Dartmouth. Navy life moved them to Halifax, Montreal, and Ottawa, before returning to Halifax again. In 1974, Ian retired from active service – at the senior age of 44 - and hung his own shingle for Estate Services Ltd., a real estate and financial management firm he ran with John Holland, a fellow retired naval officer. It was during this time that he happily provided financial counsel and mentorship to family, grandchildren, friends, and students of the Dalhousie School of Management – encouraging all to “Live within your means.”
Throughout his life, Ian maintained a commitment to public service. He was a 50-year member and past president of the Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia and past president of the Nova Scotia Branch of the Royal Military College Club. He served as a Board Member of the Lunenburg Foundry, the Lunenburg Marine Railway, the Royal Canadian Naval Benevolent Fund, The Naval Memorial Trust (HMCS Sackville) and a number of private firms. He was a member of the Halifax Curling Club, the Lunenburg Yacht Club, the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron, Chairmen of the 1993 Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race, a life member of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, the RMC Ex Cadet Association, and the First Baptist Church, chairing a number of committees as well as permanent chauffer for the Head of the Flower Committee.
For twenty-seven years from 1974-2001, Ian served as naval Aide-de-Camp for the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia– serving six different Royal Representatives. Ian was very proud to have been awarded four bars to his Canadian Forces Decoration (CD) signifying fifty-one years of service. Ian was also a Serving Brother in the Order of St. John and was awarded the Order of St. John, Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal, Canada 125th Anniversary Medal, the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal and a Vice Regal Commendation.
Dad had the special ability, dignity and grace to be comfortable, warm and engaging with everyone he met – be they senior politicians, naval officers, a church hall of cub scouts or the men of the Tuesday Round Table at the RNSYS. He had an infectious twinkle in his eye, was seldom found not smiling and was always up for something fun. He was interested in what you had to say – grandchildren’s discoveries from their hikes through the woods, stories from university life, trials and tribulations of growing up or just to know how life was like in “your neck of the woods”. He stood tall and distinguished in full naval uniform, professional in suit and tie and could rock a Hawaiian shirt while playing his ukelele. He could pull off a top hat and red velvet Christmas vest with ivory buttons, or a Squadron blazer with HMCS Sackville tie, or even just an overcoat and ascot when out walking Scout. And with dress whites and black aviators on - he just looked cool.
Ian and family spent summers at their cottage on Herman’s Island sailing and racing Sou’Wester and Morning Watch and tubing his grandchildren behind Gael. He enjoyed motoring around Mahone Bay with grandchildren sitting on his lap steering – sharing his love of the sea. And before mooring would often take Gael out for one last – flat out spin across the bay. Dad was also an experienced off-shore racer, having competed in the Marblehead to Halifax Race three times – his first race in 1957 as the navigator aboard the yawl Pickle, a leaky 60’ sloop which was a war prize of the Royal Navy. He and Johanne also enjoyed cruising the coast of Nova Scotia with the RNSYS Summer Cruise group, laughing, singing, and adventuring with many of their closest friends, even extending these cruises to the Caribbean, the Mahone Bay of the South. They also traveled extensively and visited more than 45 countries on four continents. Ian would meticulously plan and research the trips beforehand and upon their return draft up a day-by-day summary of their adventures complete with photos and tidbits of kings and queens, cemeteries and castles, local cuisine and folklore.
Ian was a comedic poet, songwriter and storyteller at heart. He was famous for memorializing special events in verse, handing out the lyrics, sometimes performing with his ukulele – this even applied to presenting the annual financial statements of the Halifax Adult Ukulele Ensemble to the melodies of Gilbert and Sullivan, Gershwin, Jim Bennet or any other tune that struck his fancy. Dad also excelled at helping his boys write Junior High poetry for English class (always claiming at least an A minus average) with subjects as diverse as UFOs, Sopwith Camels, green frogs or Remembrance Day. During the summers, he would regale the gang of kids on the north side of Herman’s Island with readings of Swallows and Amazons and Wind and the Willows and entertain his own boys and grandchildren with his own tales of two mischievous field mice – Harrence and Clarry. He was a great story-teller and a terror at Trivial Pursuit.
Despite having four boys and all their associated mayhem, he remained calm, seldom raising his voice. If we stayed out to late or bumped the family car, he was always more concerned about our well being than any damaged item. He was firm and would quietly get his message across – but he always gave you the feeling that he had your back. And as a grandfather, he was a great person just to have a chat with and when you got off the phone you always felt a bit better having spoken with him.
After Christopher’s passing in 1996, Ian and Johanne created the Christopher McKee Award of Merit at the Dalhousie Faculty of Management. The award has been presented to more than 40 students, including Jakub Orzechowski, who has enjoyed a life-long friendship with mom and dad. Ian and Johanne also sponsored projects at University of King’s College, and Mount Saint Vincent University, Johanne’s alma mater.
A small private family service is planned over the holidays. In keeping with Dad’s zest for a life well lived, a celebration of his life will be held in the spring when family and friends can gather to remember Ian – raise a scotch or G&T – and share stories and memories.
Memorial donations may be made to the Christopher McKee Award of Merit, Dalhousie University – Office of Advancement (PO Box 15000, Halifax) or the charity of your choice.
We love you Dad – Granddad – Ian (his typical email signature line) and will miss you greatly but we’ll never forget your lessons of life and love.
May the wind be ever at your back
Fair weather, and God Speed. (J.A. Snow Funeral Home)
Ships served in: HMCS HOCHELAGA - OIC Naval Management School NDHQ OTTAWA HMCS STADACONA, MARITIME WARFARE SCHOOL - Surface Instructor CANADIAN FORCES STAFF COLLEGE (TORONTO)
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