Lyndon’s Obituary
With heavy hearts, and tears, we announce the passing of Lyndon Eric Alcorn on July 4, 2019 after a 15-month battle with pancreatic cancer. And with fondness and laughter, we remember him.
He was born on June 23, 1964 in Halifax, NS, and was the youngest of Carlton and Antoinette (nee Richard) Alcorn’s five children.
Following high school, Eric attended King’s College in Halifax where he chose to study philosophy. After his Foundation Year at Kings, he travelled to England for a nine-month work term that he managed to stretch into several more months of travel around Europe. Following his adventures abroad, Eric enjoyed the rest of his undergrad years at Kings. He was active in student life and spent many great times with friends in the Ward Room.
Once he earned his philosophy degree, Eric realized that his father had a valid question…what would he do with that? After some rumination, experimentation, and more travel (including a side trip to Israel that ended in a brief stay in Egypt…Lesson learned: don’t wander down a wadi when you are close to the border of two countries with shaky relations), Eric decided to attend Acadia University, where he earned a master’s degree in biology. During his time as a student at Acadia, he became an active member of the Blandings Turtle Recovery Team; his active participation in the species recovery giving him a valid excuse to spend weeks camping at Kejimkujik National Park each spring and fall.
Eric worked as a laboratory instructor at St Francis Xavier University for three years before returning to
the Annapolis Valley to work as an instructor for first year biology students at Acadia University. After 10+ years of molding (corrupting?) young minds in Intro Biology, Eric taught Human Biology to kinesiology and nutrition students, both in the classroom/lab and through online courses with Open Acadia. In addition to his teaching duties, Eric conducted research and served on many student committees. Eric was an active member of the Acadia University Faculty Association’s (AUFA) union, serving as a member of various committees, a negotiating team, union vice-president, and union president. Eric’s service to the Acadia community culminated in his efforts to revamp the pension plan at the University to ensure that it would be sustainable long into the future. Although he was a member of AUFA, he was keenly aware that other employee groups were part of the pension plan, and he worked hard to ensure that the new plan was fair and equitable to everyone.
Outside of his duties at Acadia, Eric worked at Camp Wapomeo and later volunteered as a councillor at the Diabetic Association’s Camp Atlantic for several years. He brought his fun, natural leadership, and musicianship to camp and left a lasting example of conflict resolution and how to be engaging and accepting for the other leaders. He sang and played guitar with several bands, including Mercy Street, and most recently, Gin and Sonic; fostered dogs for several years for the Kings County SPCA; and spent time with his kids, family, and many friends. He lived a life full of chaos, joy, and love. We will truly miss his quick wit, humour, and that booming infectious laugh.
He leaves behind his partner of 22 years, Stephanie Bishop, children, Calum and Morleah, parents Carlton and Antoinette Alcorn, and four siblings, Bruce (Patti), Pamela (Graham), Brent (Natalia), and Grant (Cindy), along with many extended family and friends.
To those who knew him–you know he commanded a room, that he loved his family, music, science fiction (particularly Star Trek), and pursuing understanding in philosophy and science. He loved a good “discussion,” and the world of teaching, where he used many innovative methods to ensure that his students would learn not just course material, but how to critically evaluate hypotheses, research for themselves, and draw their own conclusions on the validity of the information presented.
Special thanks goes to the staff at Valley Regional Hospital, particularly Dr. Julia Merryweather and the nurses in the Cancer Care Clinic, and Dr. Melissa Broaders who helped all of us through the last few weeks of his hospitalization, and Hospice Halifax for their dedication and care.
Interment took place on July 5, 2019 in the Green Burial Ground of Burlington Cemetery, Kings County, NS. A celebration of his life will be held Saturday, August 3, 2-4pm at 2187 Larry Uteck Blvd, Halifax. Please join us as we celebrate Eric’s life with words, media, and music.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Eric’s Legacy, a trust fund for his children: www.gofundme.com/eric039s-legacy, or a charity of your choice.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Middleton Funeral Home, 398 Main St., toll free 1-855-825-3448. Online guest book may be signed by visiting: www.middletonfuneralhome.com
“Roj Eric Bertlham”
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Lyndon Eric Alcorn June 23 1964 July 04 2019..
Death notice for the town of: Middleton, Province: Nova Scotia