The family of Ronald (‘Ron’,
‘Ronnie’) Francis MacKenzie, of Truro, are
saddened to announce his passing on Sunday, October 30, at the age of
91. He passed away peacefully at the Colchester East Hants Health
Centre. Born in Truro, he was the son of the late Joseph and Florence
(Doucette) McKenzie.
He and his five brothers and four sisters grew up in the east
part of the town, on Park Road by Victoria Park and later Miller Road.
His affection for the area remained throughout his lifetime as he
easily and fondly recalled the many opportunities he had to explore
the park and play little league baseball at nearby Victoria Park
diamond.
While still a teenager, he joined the Royal Canadian Navy in
1948 where his four-year tenure led to a long career in meteorology,
primarily with Environment Canada working out of Halifax Stanfield
International Airport. Even after retiring from his meteorology
technician position at the Enfield-based airport, he answered calls to
return to the profession and worked out of weather stations across
Atlantic Canada, including Charlottetown, St. John’s and
Trenton, Pictou County. All totalled, he spent 35 years in
meteorology.
While baseball was an early passion, so too was hockey, and
both remained so throughout his life. His youth baseball involvement
included playing second base for the East End Naturals –
Truro juvenile baseball champions in 1947 and ’48, before
joining the navy. He first played organized hockey as a bantam at the
old Truro Forum. He played both sports long into his latter years with
slo-pitch softball replacing baseball.
His hockey involvement included time in the old Truro
District League and he was an original member of the Truro Bearcat
Oldtimers who formed in 1978 to face-off against a touring Swedish
team. The team continued on for many years and Ron loved his time with
Bearcat Oldtimers which included participation in tournaments in
Florida and a trip to California. And while his involvement with the
Oldtimers is significant, he may best be remembered for continuing a
celebrated Wednesday afternoon hockey hour at the Colchester Legion
Stadium as the player-organizer into his early 80s. And when it was
time to hang up the blades for the spring/summer, out came the golf
clubs and he became well-known in his last few years of golfing for
beating everyone to the Truro Golf Club for an early round, usually on
his own with just the dew on the ground to greet him each
morning.
‘Speed or ‘Old Speed’ as he was
affectionately known, was named Truro Sport Heritage
Society’s Male Senior Athlete of the Year in 2008, for his
many endeavours. A strong card and pool player, he was also an avid
hunter and fisherman and a man who could tackle any
‘do-it-yourself’ project long before the term ever
came into existence. He loved to garden and get his hands dirty, no
matter the project.
Harkening back to his time with the navy, he was well known
for his involvement in the former Main Brace Naval Veterans’
Club in Truro and later, with the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 26,
which included a term as club president. He would be especially busy
this time of year making sure Remembrance Day was first and foremost
on people’s minds and folks were supporting veterans through
the poppy campaign and other events. From poppies, his attention would
quickly turn to Christmas Kettles for the Salvation Army and the
upcoming holiday season. The season was a special one for Ron who took
great pride in home decorating, as well as trimming the family
Christmas tree. A tradition was waiting for the final reveal of the
fully decorated tree on Christmas morning.
Another wintertime tradition at the MacKenzie household on
Dominion Street was the backyard rinks Ron would painstakingly build
and maintain each season. He often finished off a long evening shift
at the airport and drive back to Truro, by flooding the rink in
freezing temperatures, before finally going to bed. His efforts
ensuring a fresh sheet the family could enjoy the following day and
the glistening rink being the envy of the
neighbourhood.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Louella; brothers,
Hugh and Lauchie; sister, Catherine; children, Joey, Janice (John)
Terry, Rhonda (Brent) MacGrath, Marilyn (Rod) Roode, Judy (Greg)
Marquis, Richard, Sandy (Denise) and Christopher (Megan) Crowell as
well as several grand and great-grandchildren. As well as his parents,
he was predeceased by his brothers, Donald, Kenneth and David;
sisters, Theresa, Ann Marilyn and Anne Marie; daughters, Lori Anne and
Paula (Michael) MacDonald; great-grandson, Christian
Crowell.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Mattatall –
Varner Funeral Home, 55 Young Street, Truro where visitation will take
place 6-8 p.m., Monday, December 5, 2022. Funeral Mass will
be held at 2:30 pm Tuesday, December 6, 2022 at Immaculate Conception
Roman Catholic Church, 669 Prince Street, Truro, Father Andrew
Rembarczyk officiating. Reception to follow in Campbell Hall at the
church. Interment will be held at a later date. If so desired,
donations in Ronald’s memory to a charity of choice are welcomed.
Private messages of condolence may be sent to the family by viewing
Ronald’s obituary online and selecting “Send A
Condolence” at: www.mattatallvarnerfh.com
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Ronald Francis Joseph MacKenzie 1931 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Truro, Province: Nova Scotia