Honourable George A. Snow, ECNS
Died April 7, 2020 in Yarmouth Hospital at age 96. He passed from this life peacefully, in his sleep, from complications following a short bout of pneumonia.
George often said that he had had a good life. He came from a long line of fishermen and was a Mayflower descendant. Left behind to mourn him are his children, Susan (Rod Moores), Howard (Madeleine) and Rod (Heather). George was predeceased in 2005 by his wife, the love of his life and his best friend, Marjorie.
The son of Albert Snow and Lottie (nee Lamrock), George was the last of his generation and Uncle George to many nieces and nephews and their children. His brother Doug (Fran) and sister Frances (Leslie Delaney) predeceased him as did all of Marjorie’s nine brothers and sisters.
Although scattered across North America, all of his grandchildren knew and loved him and he loved them in return. There was no end to his tricks–divining a well, knitting a lobster pot head, growing the tomato that made the sandwich delicious –and many others. He will forever be held in the hearts of Heidi (Krishna), Peter (Ola), Andrew, Chris (Sarah), Megan (Julian), Ben (Leia), Emily (Craig), Nick (Rosie), and Noah (Markie). George was lucky to know all his great-grandchildren: Riali, William, Ainsley, Aurora, Mila, Owen and Hudson. He was proud to say they are all Mayflower descendants.
A son of Port Maitland and a servant of Nova Scotia, he lived his entire life in Port Maitland. Born August 1, 1923, he was that rare breed who was equally at home at Trinity Ledge in the Bay of Fundy and at Province House in Halifax.
George was a lobster fisherman for 48 years until he retired in 1989. He took both his sons lobstering so they had something to fall back on “in case the law didn’t work out”. An active member of the Port Maitland Lobster Co-op, he was instrumental in securing a price bonus for all Port Maitland lobsters for many years. He was an old school navigator who could find his traps in thick fog and make it home to the wharf just in time to get a cradle under his boat before she grounded on the ebb tide. Because he was “on the outside” on January 13, 1967, his was the first boat to go and rescue the captain, crew and dogs aboard the freighter “Nelson B” which sank on the hazardous Trinity Ledge, a story he always told with humility.
He took time out from fishing to run in 5 Nova Scotia elections. He lost the first and the last, but was elected in 1963, 1967 and 1970. Attracted to public life by Robert Stanfield, George was appointed to Cabinet in 1968 and served as Minister of Lands and Forests, Minister of Public Works, and Minister responsible for Housing. He believed it was an honour to serve as the MLA for Yarmouth for 11 years.
After losing the election in 1974, George happily returned to lobstering with his last boat, the “Heather and Madeleine” and Marjorie ran Marjorie’s Yarns and Crafts in Yarmouth. Although he was a member of Beacon United Church, he volunteered as a member and later as Chair of the Board of Villa St. Joseph du Lac where he enjoyed working with Sister Arsenault. With their children grown up, George rebuilt “Snowdinn” at Lake George where he loved to pick blueberries, visit by the fire, and tell stories. He was an “early-adopter” running the camp on solar power for decades, installing seat belts before they were required, and more recently buying a series of Prius hybrids and encouraging his family to do the same.
He was a sociable man who liked his apple pie with ice cream and loved to be with people. A storyteller from the oral tradition, he always had a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye and liked nothing better than an audience, whether at the Firehall on Firemen’s Days or at the Windlass with the ROMEOs (Retired Old Men Eating Out).
George grew up on Charles Street and lived for 69 years on the Shore Hill in Port Maitland. He lived and loved the village history and in his retirement years took a keen interest in the restoration of its overgrown cemeteries. He helped found “Old Stones” and cleared, mowed, and restored headstones. When he could no longer mow, he worked the phones to recruit those who could and built Adirondack lawn chairs for the annual fundraiser.
George spent the last 18 months living in Yarmouth Heights where he said the staff were kind and the food was good. He appreciated the many visitors who came to see him.
There will be a private committal at Port Maitland/Beaver River Cemetery and a Celebration of Life (with stories) when circumstances permit. Memorial donations may be made in George’s name to the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation yarmouthhospitalfoundation.ca/donate-now.php or the Yarmouth Food Bank Society www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/yarmouth-food-bank-society/.
Online
condolences may be sent to: Sweenysfh@eastlink.ca or you may sign the online guestbook at
www.sweenysfuneralhome.net
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of George Albert Snow Tuesday April 7th 2020..
Death notice for the town of: YARMOUTH, Province: Nova Scotia