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David W. Gruchy

David W. Gruchy

The Honourable David W. Gruchy

The Honourable Justice (retired) David W. Gruchy passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, May 22, 2016 at the age of 84.

Dave was born in Bishop’s Falls, Newfoundland to Philip and Evelyn (Baird) Gruchy on March 17, 1932 with his twin sister, Patricia (Mutch). They were joined seven years later by their sister Judy (Townsend) and remained close throughout his life. He had three older siblings, Phyllis, Phil and Shirley.

Dave is survived by his wife, Betty, his four children, Phil (Sylvie Ouellette), Steve (Rosemary Hall), Rick (Annika Renborg) and Sally (David Sinclair) and his grandchildren, Alex Polley (Elizabeth McDonald), Sam, Daisy, Will, Libby and Danny Gruchy, and Erin and Matthew Sinclair.

Dave was raised and educated to the age of fifteen in Grand Falls, Newfoundland and then attended Bishop’s College School in Lennoxville, Quebec and King’s College School in Windsor, Nova Scotia. In 1951 he attended the University of King’s College in Halifax, where he would have the good fortune to meet and fall in love with Helen Elizabeth “Betty” Stayner. They married in 1958. In 1954 he enrolled at Dalhousie Law School and graduated in 1957. After Articling with R. Lorne MacDougall, Q.C. in Truro he was admitted to the Bar and began his professional career in partnership with Mr. MacDougall as Burchell, MacDougall and Gruchy. From 1958 to 1990 he practiced labour, municipal and administrative law, and civil litigation. He was Solicitor for the Town of Truro from 1975 to 1990. Dave received his designation as Queen’s Counsel in 1974.

Throughout his career as a lawyer Dave served as a founding member of the Truro Industrial Commission, was President of the Canadian Transportation Lawyers Association (1989), was Vice-Chair of the Law Foundation of Nova Scotia, served on the Bar Counsel of the Nova Scotia Barristers Society and was active on various committees of the Canadian Bar Association.

Dave was appointed to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, Trial Division, on July 6, 1990 where he remained until his retirement on March 17, 2007. Following his retirement from the bench he served on the Nova Scotia Criminal Review Board, the Nova Scotia Securities Commission and as Chair of the Nova Scotia MLA Pension Review (2011).

Dave gave freely of his time and experience to various community groups while living in Truro. He was an active member of the Kinsmen Club and served as Chairman of the United Way. As his children grew and began to develop an interest in music he and Betty became actively involved in arranging and fund raising for numerous band and choir trips through Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom.

Dave was an enthusiastic skier and enjoyed many ski trips with family and friends to Maine and Quebec. He loved being at the cottage on Shortts Lake, where he enjoyed relaxing times and lively gatherings with friends and family, and many happy hours teaching an inestimable number of kids to water ski. Although he and Betty made the difficult decision to give up their home on Pleasant Street in Truro in 1992 to move to Halifax, Dave maintained his close friendships in Truro.

Dave will be fondly remembered by all who knew him as humble and humorous, a gentleman in every way, but above all a person you could always count on to bring his best to any challenge.

Visitation will take place at J. A. Snow Funeral Home, 339 Lacewood Drive, Halifax, on Friday, May 27 from 4 to 7 pm. A funeral service will be held in St. James Anglican Church at the Armdale Rotary on Saturday, May 28 at 10:30 am, with a reception to follow in the church hall. A private internment will take place after the reception. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Kidney Foundation of Canada or the Victorian Order of Nurses. For online condolences please visit: www.jasnowfuneralhome.com

 

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