John Starr
1928-2022
John Starr had a lengthy and rich life. After
completing his B.Sc. from McMaster University in 1952, John worked as
a chemist and administrator for Dow Chemical in Sarnia, Ontario. He
married Audrey Inch in 1955 and they had two daughters, Jane and
Alison. After he was transferred to Dow’s Edmonton facility
in 1961, they welcomed sons, Tommy and Peter. Tommy died in 1964. John
left Dow to work for Raylo, and later did private consulting and
worked for the Alberta Research Council. He and Audrey separated in
1981.
In 1986 a matchmaking friend thought that that
two single people, each with a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, might have
something in common and introduced him to Susan Markham. It worked,
and in 1987, when Susan accepted a teaching position at Acadia
University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, they moved east, and he found
his true home there. He worked as Director of the Acadia Institute
until his retirement in 1992. John and Susan were married in 1992. The
first two dogs, Gilly and Paddy, were succeeded by Barnaby and then
Jack, as well as several pairs of cats – most recently Will
and Kate.
Most people knew John as a winemaker, a sailor,
a woodworker, a curler and a chef. His wine making prowess was
recognized at both the provincial and national levels with numerous
gold medals. He grew grapes at “The Vineyard,” was a
judge in competitions, and mentored many new winemakers both as a
member of the Halifax-Dartmouth Wine Circle and as a founding member
of the Annapolis Valley Vintners. In the first full summer that he was
in Wolfville he led tasting tours at Grand Pré Winery when
it was owned by Roger Dial. His knowledge and teaching were
appreciated by both the winemakers and the wine
drinkers.
John and his 24-foot Westerly Centaur sailboat,
Roçinante (named after Don Quixote’s horse),
sailed around Chester Basin and in one epic summer along the Eastern
Shore, through the Strait of Canso and over to PEI. He sold the boat
in 1998.
He was known for building and fixing. He built
beautiful furniture and crafted sets and props for many community
groups, including the Atlantic Theatre Festival, Fezziwig, and the
Women of Wolfville. Fezziwig audience members will remember a
Cinderella’s coach that magically morphed from a pumpkin to
a coach before their eyes. And then there was the year that an antique
loveseat prop was repaired backstage between performances with the aid
of glue and TheraBands.
John chose not to join Susan on the golf
course, but curled with the seniors at the Wolfville Curling Club and
was feted as a Super Senior in 2004.
Always artistic, he took up watercolours and
created wonderful botanical art and many annual Christmas
cards.
John was an amazing cook. He even catered his
and Susan’s wedding reception! Many of us think that his
most amazing endeavour was baking the loaves of bread that raised well
over $2000 for the Cancer Navigators Program when auctioned off at the
annual KenWo Women’s Scramble for Cancer Care, over at least
10 years. One year his loaf was auctioned off for
$600!
His circle of friends was (and still is) wide
and varied; including neighbours, Susan’s colleagues and
students, members of the University Club where he was President in
1990-91, winemakers and wine drinkers, the Friday afternoon
Bill’s Bunch at The Library Pub, the Saturday afternoon crew
at Horton Ridge Malt House, and lots of people who appreciated his
knowledge and wit.
John had 93 good years and seven months of
illness. He moved to the Annapolis Valley Hospice on Wednesday,
January 26, and died there surrounded by his
family.
He is survived by his wife Susan, his children
Jane, Alison, and Peter, and their families, his older brother Bill,
five nieces and a nephew. He was predeceased by his young son Tommy
and his sister, Margaret Vance.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of John Starr 19282022..
Death notice for the town of: Kentville, Province: Nova Scotia