John Joseph Currie
Passed away peacefully in QEII Health Services Centre on April 13, 2011.
Joe was born in Vernon River, P.E.I., in 1915. At the age of 19 he went to sea on a Maritime-based hydrographic survey ship. Intrigued by the seafaring lifestyle, Joe joined the RCN in 1939 and made the navy his career for 28 years. During the war he served on Canadian naval destroyers escorting merchant ships across the Atlantic to Great Britain. One of Joe’s wartime experiences was described in a moving story, Burial at Sea, in which he detailed the solemn burial of three merchantmen whose bodies were plucked from the Atlantic after their ship was torpedoed. Joe had tremendous respect for merchantmen, whose deaths at sea during convoy runs was a common occurrence. In 1945, Joe experienced firsthand the consequences of a torpedo when the stern of his ship was blown away by German U-boat 315. As Chief Petty Officer in charge of damage control, Joe remained on board as part of a skeleton crew assigned to keep the ship afloat. The destroyer, HMCS Teme, was successfully towed to Falmouth, England.
After serving in the Korean War, Joe was stationed with his family in Belfast, Northern Ireland. From 1953 to 1957 he helped supervise the completion of the construction of the Canadian aircraft carrier, HMCS Bonaventure. Proud of his role in Canada’s navy, Joe has willed his numerous service medals to grandson Michael Currie, of Canada’s Queen’s Own Rifles.
As Joe’s naval career was winding down a new passion evolved. He began playing duplicate bridge at a club at Stadacona. Attending numerous tournaments across North America, he became one of the leading players in the Maritimes. His passion for bridge never waned, nor did his prowess. Just 10 months ago, he and his esteemed partner Virginia Giza bested almost 5,000 other pairs from 28 countries in winning the 2010 Worldwide bridge contest.
Joe’s wife, Eleanor Currie, RN, died on December 29, 2002, after 62 years of marriage. Joe is survived by his sons, John, Toronto; Douglas, Bedford; granddaughter, Angela, Missouri; grandson, Michael, Toronto; great-grandchildren, Alex, Ryan and Rachel; and his sisters Kay, Summerside; and Celia, Charlottetown.
Visitation will be held 4-8 p.m. Friday, April 15, at Cruikshank’s Funeral Home, 2666 Windsor St., Halifax. The funeral mass will be held on Saturday at 10 a.m., followed by a reception at Blessed Mother Teresa Church, Normandy Drive.