Peter’s Obituary
Peter Swim, beloved brother, uncle, and great uncle to his nieces and nephews, passed away suddenly on Sunday, February 27, 2022. He died suddenly and unexpectedly of a heart attack and blessedly, without suffering.
Peter Balfour Swim, born on June 9th, 1953 was named for his father Herbert Balfour and his uncle Peter Swim. As the middle child of Balf and Glady, Peter was kidded by his siblings as being the favourite. He grew up in Lockeport, Nova Scotia with his older sister Laurie and younger brother Dan. As a youth, he was active in sports, first hockey and then basketball in high school where in his last year, he was president of the Student Council at Lockeport Regional High. Peter attended Acadia for a year before entering the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, now NSCAD University, and graduated with a BFA in Jewellery. Following that, he spent a semester as an assistant in the Jewelry Department at the Alberta College of Art in the early ‘70’s.
In 1974, Peter joined up with his sister in Europe and travelled with her around Britain and Scotland and then Scandinavia. In their travels, they visited museums and art galleries and to absorb the culture of the local people engaging in experiences, working on farms, in Cumbria, Britain and in Norway on the Nordfjord. These adventures shaped his life as well as exhilarated his appreciation of Fine Craft. Upon returning to Nova Scotia, he took up leather work, creating customised sandals, belts and bags as well as a line of deer horn buttons and sold his goods at the craft fairs around the province for many years.
Peter had a strong work ethic, worked hard and took his responsibilities seriously. He painted houses with Allan Crosby for a time and in retirement he occasionally still helped Allan. When his parents went on winter holiday, as a favour to his father Balfour, he ran his grocery store, the Town Market, while he was away. For several years, upon return, his father would ask Peter if he would like to take over the store permanently and Peter would decline until in 1991, he decided it was something he would like to do. This began his journey to create a unique boutique style general store that would serve the Lockeport and surrounding area for the next 29 years.
Rising in the early hours of each day, he drove from Sable River to open up the store, oversee the operation, prepare and set out produce and take his place behind the meat counter where he prepared cooked goods, baked fresh bread and rolls. As the day progressed, he greeted his customers and often, especially if there were children, come out from behind the counter to talk with them. His commitment to making his place of work a pleasant and professional environment for both his customers and staff was personal. Debbie Scott and Lisa Hagar were loyal employees that worked with him from the very beginning. Recently, when the pandemic took hold, he and his staff diligently complied with the restrictions set out to keep people safe; physical distancing, wearing masks and sanitizing surfaces throughout the store. As Peter approached retirement age, he began thinking of selling The Town market. As in all things, his thought was for his community and he made the decision not to sell to a franchise or a chain that would change what he had built over the years. His hope was that a younger couple would carry on the ‘mom and pop’ operation and his legacy. In 2020, a couple from Ontario bought the business and moved with their young family to start a new life in Lockeport.
Before retirement, he had set up a mill on his property in Sable, clearing and cutting down trees, creating lumber with the help of his brother Dan. He loved being outside in the bush, clearing out the undergrowth and making lovely paths through the woods where there were none before. After retiring, he finally could relax and socialize with friends and family without the stress and responsibility of operating the store and all it entailed. Sitting outside and enjoying conversation with company and taking in the everchanging view of the Sable flowing by, was one of his many pleasures. In the Fall of 2021, he completed constructing, with friend and skilled carpenter Russel Crosby, a wrap around deck with a panoramic view of the river as well as a comfortable guest room where friends and family could stay. Having returned to his studio on his property very recently, he was making exquisite leather belts again, gifting them to friends and family. His future plan was to create one-of-a-kind buckles and brooches, pieces of jewelry, sculptural in nature.
Peter will be remembered as a modest, kind and sensitive fine man, a good guy, who was always ready to lend a hand. His circle of old childhood friends and so many others as well as his family, will miss him sorely. He died when helping his friend Tammy Clark, to whom we are eternally grateful for being with him when he passed. Only the night before, he was enjoying a party at Shirley Cotter’s, his long-time sweetheart and as she has said, he was his old self, relaxed and teasing those who love him, as he was likely to do.
He is also remembered as lending a sympathetic ear to life’s highs and lows. He took care of his father and mother and was responsible for them when they could no longer take care of themselves. He was a loving and loyal brother to his siblings, Dan and Laurie. Having never married or had children of his own, he cared for and advised his niece Anne and his nephews Luke, Aaron Swim and Jake Goldstein, as if they were his own. He will be remembered by his brother-in-law, Larry Goldstein and his many cousins, especially Betty Lou Benham, Mike Hartigan and Colleen Buker, who live close by and saw him regularly. He was our glue. His death has left a hole in all our hearts.
Peter had many plans; travel across Canada and abroad, build a greenhouse to grow his own vegetables… he had many things to do, many miles to go. He often said as long as he had something planned for the following day, if that day did not come, he would go happy. His sudden death has left us heartbroken and devastated… gone too soon.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of H.M. Huskilson’s Funeral Home, Lockeport. When Covid restrictions are lifted, there will be a celebration of his life in Lockeport. Donations in Peters name may be made to a Charity of Choice. On-line condolences may be left for the family at www.huskilson.net
Now so long, it’s time we began
To laugh and cry and cry and laugh about it all again.
-Leonard Cohen
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Peter Balfour Swim June 09 1953 February 27 2022..
H.M.Huskilson funeral homes and crematorium
Death notice for the town of: Lockeport, Province: Nova Scotia