George Thomas Haley
1941-2020
It is with deep sadness that the family of George Thomas
Haley announce his passing on November 20th, 2020. During
his brief time in palliative care he was never alone and was supported
by his family who love him and will miss him very much.
George was born in North Sydney, Cape Breton and grew-up in
“the tank” in Sydney Mines. An intellectual, he
completed studies at St. Francis Xavier University, the University of
New Brunswick and Indiana University. He spent most of his
career as a professor in the Faculty of Education at UNB, where he
taught English Education and served as the Director of Student
Teachers. During his academic career, and well into
retirement, George was involved in numerous international
collaborations in England, Mexico and Bhutan. He initiated
the UNB Teacher Exchange program, a long-lasting cooperative project
involving UNB, the New Brunswick Department of Education, the New
Brunswick Teachers’ Association and Wolverhampton
Polytechnic in Walsall, England, and was involved for many years in a
partnership between the UNB Faculty of Engineering and el Centro
Interdiscipinario de Investigación para el Desarrollo
Integral Regional in Oaxaca, Mexico, where George spent many
winters. As part of his work in Bhutan, George was a
co-author of The Silken Knot, the foundational
document setting the outcomes for English instruction for schools K-12
in the Kingdom. During his many years of collaboration with
the Bhutanese Ministry and consultants from UNB Faculty of Education,
he travelled the country providing professional development to support
the implementation of the curriculum. During this time, he
developed a great respect for Bhutanese educators. George
was passionate about his academic work, at home and abroad, and
through it developed lifelong friendships.
George loved art, especially New Brunswick pottery, and
throughout his life immersed himself in the beauty and power of
language. He read poetry and prose aloud to family and
friends, and the works of Lear, Whitman, Cohen, Yeats and others
filled his home. He was always ready to dive into a lively
discussion of ideas, especially politics, and loved to cook and to
host friends and family. He was a generous man who was most
empathic towards people experiencing poverty and homelessness.
He was a loyal and true friend and, above all, he loved his
family.
He is survived by his wife and best friend of more than forty
years, Joanne LeBlanc-Haley; their only child, Tobin; son-in-law Greg
Bowley and granddaughter Selby. He also leaves behind his
sons Joseph and Geordie (Lisa); granddaughter Gem; and daughter Lori;
brothers Terry (Nancy), Garnet (Jean), and Cyril (Bonnie);
sisters-in-law Michele LeBlanc, Nancy Wolstenholme Haydon,
and Françoise Haley; brothers-in-law Bill LeBlanc (Crystal)
and Kerry Wolstenholme (Linda); mother-in-law Ferne Wolstenholme; many
nieces and nephews and close friends, including Stephen Carter, Robert
Hawkes and Marion Leaman. He was predeceased by his brother
Frank; sister Maureen MacNeil; brother-in-law Tommy MacNeil; and many
dear friends, including Allen Selby. There will be an empty
spot in our hearts.
Due to COVID19, there will be no memorial at this time.
Should you wish to remember George, do what he did: share
the money you have in your wallet without judgement or commentary with
someone you see who is in need. His family would like to
express the deepest of gratitude to the doctors, nurses and auxiliary
staff working at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital,
especially those working in the ER, on 4NW, and in Palliative Care for
their compassion.
www.mcadamsfh.com
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of George Thomas Haley 19412020..
Death notice for the town of: Fredericton, Province: Nouveau-Brunswick