Lyon A. Kaufman (Liney) age 92, of Amherst passed away Friday, October 15, 2010 in High Crest Nursing Home, Springhill, NS. Born in Montreal, he moved to Amherst in 1936 where he was better known as "Liney". He was the son of the late Martin J. Kaufman, more familiarly known as "M.J." Kaufman longest serving Mayor of the Town of Amherst (1935 - 1945 and 1953 - 1955) and Liberal M.L.A. from 1945 to 1953. A former Mayor of the Town of Amherst, Liney's name is inscribed in the registered Town of Amherst Coat of Arms plaque which is displayed in the Chambers of the Town Council.
He was a graduate of Dalhousie University where he majored in economics and completed his first year of law. Liney was a veteran of World War II serving in Canada, England, France, Belgium and Holland. He was past first vice-president of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #10, Amherst from which he proudly received the 60 year RCL membership pin.
Activities in the private sector included (Post-war): President and General Manager of the Maritime Pant Factory, which during World War II manufactured over 500,000 pairs of army battle-dress trousers and more than 200,000 pairs of air force trousers.
He was past president of the Cumberland County Federal Liberal Association; past president of the Cumberland County East Provincial Liberal Association; past president of the Amherst Credit Union; past president of the Amherst Board of Trade; past president of the Amherst Growth Foundation; first chairman of the Cumberland County Vocational High School (now a N.S. Community College located in Springhill). Liney joined the federal government public service in Moncton in 1964 and retired from the service in Fredericton in 1981 from the position of Director Employment and Insurance for the province of New Brunswick. While serving in Halifax at the Atlantic Regional Office of the original Department of Manpower and Immigration he held the various positions of : Chief of Employment Development, Chief of Manpower Consultative Services, Chief of Intergovernmental Affairs, Director of Manpower Support Services, Director of Manpower Training. He was transferred to Fredericton in 1975 as Director of Manpower for the province of New Brunswick. With the subsequent creation of the Canada Employment and Insurance (U.I.) Commission he was appointed Director of Employment and Insurance for New Brunswick. From October 1977 until his retirement in December 1981, he was responsible for the operational delivery of all employment and unemployment programs and services via strategically located Canada Employment Centres and Branch Offices. His retirement years were spent - in the main- at his home in Tidnish Crossroads where he was actively involved in local community affairs. Worth mentioning is the fact that he was presented with the Key to the City of New Orleans on December 3, 1971.
He is survived by daughters Diane (Richard) Brown of Amherst Head and Kristene (Clive) Handley of Halifax, grandchildren Claire MacNeill (Nick) of Amherst, Suzanne (Tim) MacPhee of Tidnish; great grandchildren Jacob and Carleigh. He was predeceased by his wife the former Claire Moor.
There will be no visitation.
The Royal Canadian Legion Branch # 10, Amherst will hold their service at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, October 19, 2010 immediately followed by funeral service all from Campbell's Funeral Home, 98 Church St., Amherst. (667-9906) with Rev. Allan Griffin officiating.
Memorial donations in Liney's memory may be the Palliative Care Unit of Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre, Amherst VON or High-Crest Nursing Home Veterans Wing.
Online condolences may be made via: www.campbellsamherst.ca