(Sept. 22, 1934 – Feb. 28, 2013)
Passed away (under protest) at the Health Sciences Centre on Thursday, February 28, 2013 John MacDonald Hastings-A man of many parts: Marine engineer, model boat builder, photographer, painter, sometimes poet, writer (his memoirs), reader of two daily newspapers and good “solid” books (Will Fergusons’ 419, last month), collector of stamps and recipes, gardener, friend of the garden, golfer, sports enthusiast, lover of: good food, things Scottish (and French), classical music and golden oldies (singing along with VOWR at night), dogs, nature and the outdoors (long walks, photography excursions, trouting in hard to reach ponds). John was born in Glasgow, Scotland but continued to have fond childhood memories of the small village of Tighnabruaich, Argyll. He was a strong, resilient, adaptable Scotsman, who refused to be defined by any medical condition. He will be greatly missed by his wife, Elizabeth (Betty); his siblings and their families; sisters: Elizabeth Levey (Jeff), South Africa; Morag Macintyre (Archie), Scotland; brother, James MacDonald (Diana), Scotland. He will also be mourned by in-laws (Tobin family): Brian and Ida, Peter and Lorraine, Cathy, Andy, and the family of Osbourne (deceased), our many special cousins, Uncle, Kevin Tobin, Aunts, Katherine March and Mary Tobin and their families; as well as the many good friends who have continued to offer care and support. Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held at Carnell’s Funeral Home, 329 Freshwater Road on Tuesday, March 5, 2013 from 1 - 4 and 7 - 9 p.m. Funeral service will be held from Wesley United Church on Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. Interment at a later date. Family flowers only. Donations in John’s memory may be made to the Office of Alumni Affairs & Development Memorial University of Newfoundland, 20 Lambe’s Lane,
St. John’s, NL A1C 5S7, in support of a Scholarship/Award in Visual Arts to be established in John’s name. To send a message of condolence or to sign the memorial guest book, please visit www.carnells.com.
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Dylan Thomas