LCDR Ret. John Stewart Lockhart recently passed away, peacefully at home at the age of 62. John was born in Saint John, New Brunswick. Upon graduating from high school, John enrolled in the Naval ROTP program, joining the Canadian Navy in 1967. He obtained an Engineering degree from the University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, and served for 38 years as a Marine Systems Engineering Officer, with postings in Halifax; Royal Naval Engineering College Manadon, England; Ottawa; St. Catharines; and Victoria. He attended Senior Staff College at Greenwich, England in 1984 as one of two Canadians in a class of international Naval Officers. John served as the Engineering Officer (EO) of HMCS Annapolis in Halifax, and of HMCS Protecteur in Victoria. He was EO during Protecteur’s six month deployment on a peacekeeping mission to East Timor commencing 27 Sep 1999. After hanging up his uniform, he continued to work for the Navy as an engineer for another 5 years, retiring in 2010. He was well respected by all who worked and served with him.

In 1976 John met the love of his life, Cheryl (Stevens). They were each other’s best friend and champion. Together they travelled the four corners of the globe, always delighting in each other’s company and raising a glass of wine with international friends. During Cheryl’s illness, John was her devoted caregiver, never far from her side, both at home and in care facilities. Following her death, John volunteered at the Glengarry Hospital, always providing a cheerful smile and joke to those in need.
John enjoyed many activities including gardening, bicycling, cooking and was an insatiable reader. He relished sailing, both racing and cruising, particularly the cruising trips in the Gulf and San Juan Islands with friends and family.

John is predeceased by his wife Cheryl (Stevens), mother and father, Jean (Stewart) and Bill Lockhart, brother James, and sister Anne. John is survived by his brother, David (Mary Jane Newbold) of Calgary, and his sister Jane Lunney of Mississauga, brother in law Greg Stevens and his wife Judy (Rennehan) of Victoria, and mother in law Rae Stevens. He will be dearly missed by his nieces and nephews: Michael and Jeffrey Stevens; Crystal (Lockhart) Keenan; and Alissa, Thomas, and Eileen Lunney, and of course his much loved cat, Taz.
John was a warm hearted soul who welcomed anyone and everyone into his life, and was loved and appreciated by all knew him. He will be missed by many. A memorial service will be held later in the winter.

"Let me square the yards, while we may, old man, and make a fair wind of it homeward."
- Herman Melville Moby Dick (1851)

Fair Winds and Following Seas, dear John.

Donations can be made to the Canadian Red Cross or a charity of your choice.