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Angus Allen MacDonald

Born In: Sydney Mines
Born: June 14th, 1932

Passed in: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed on: December 9th, 2014

With deep sadness we announce the passing of Angus Allen MacDonald, 82, of Dartmouth, who passed away peacefully in palliative care at the VGH on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2014.
Born June 14, 1932 in Sydney Mines, Gus was the son of the late Angus and Florence Toomey (Graham) MacDonald. He was a graduate of Sydney Mines High and attended engineering at St. FX, Antigonish.
Gus was the last cable station manager at Sydney Mines (Eastern Tel & Tel), a unique telephone company, overseeing the historic 1st transatlantic telephone cables to Europe and radio relay routes toward Montreal and New York, the Canadian and US overseas gateways. During the Cold War these were prime to carry government and military circuits, including the original hotline between Americian and Soviet heads of state. Gus, as station manager, was an overseer of both the land and sea facilities, and also had a defining responsibility to personally locate cable faults in the Cabot Strait, providing accurate coordinates to direct the captains of cable repair ships over the years, in 26 breaks caused by fishing trawlers from around the world. After 21 years the cable repeaters with vacuum tubes were obsolete due to modern overseas US cables. Rather than fade away when Eastern Tel disbanded Gus accepted a transfer to Maritime Tel & Tel (Bell Aliant), where he held several positions, lastly in engineering.
Retiring after 37 years in telecommunications together with his wife Joan, a methods analyst Bell Aliant business employee. A member of Iona Presbyterian Church, Dartmouth, he formerly served on board of managers. Gus with family were travelling downhill skiers, skiing the eastern and western US and the Alps of Austria and France seperate times. A boat on the Bras d'Or Lakes, vegetable gardening and three very friendly, happy retrievers kept him active.
Predeceased by his parents, half-sister, Emily MacAskill (Toomey), half-brothers, John (Jack) and Graham Toomey.
Gus is survived by his wife and best friend, Joan (Clarke); his daughter, the Reverend Jennifer MacDonald; son, Robin MacDonald, P. ENG of Dhahran, Saudi Arabia and Ormond Beach, Florida. He dearly loved his grandchildren, Ripley and Jasper.
His family would like to extend sincere thanks to Dr. Lori Wood, and her assistant, Pat as well as Patti MacDougall and the doctors and nurses of 7A at the VGH. Thanks are also extended to the Rev. Dr. Cynthia Chenard.
Respecting Gus's wishes there will be no funeral. Visitation will take place at Iona Presbyterian Church, 90 Lucien Dr., Dartmouth, N.S., B2W 4A4, on Saturday, Dec. 13th from 2-4 p.m. Private interment will be at Dartmouth Memorial Gardens. Family flowers only please. If desired memorial donations may be made to Iona Presbyterian Church.


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