REEVES, JOHN HENRY TATAM - John Henry Tatam Reeves, 89, of Haute-Aboujagane, passed away peacefully at the Dr. Georges-L. Dumont University Hospital, Moncton, on Tuesday August 30, 2011. Born in Windsor, England, he was the son of the late George and Elizabeth (Tatam) Reeves. John worked as a plumber, pipefitter and tile setter and was a Past member of Local 488 of the Plumbers & Pipe Fitters Union, Edmonton, AB. John will be sadly missed by his wife, Ivy (Tatam) Reeves of Haute-Aboujagane, NB; sons, Dean (Jan) of Medicine Hat, AB and David of Edmonton, AB; grandchildren, Tatam, Kieran, Robin, Dorian. Known by his brothers Fred (New Zealand) and Dave (England) as Mr. Diz, or Dizzy, John always left his mark on people – once met, never forgotten. He grew up by the sea and could skip a stone on water with the best. He volunteered to join the RAF during WWII, serving in North Africa and the Middle East from 1940-45. His was an inquisitive and inventive mind. John had a deep love of nature, befriending generations of raccoons and squirrels in his forest paradise he called home. John had a lifelong love of jazz and swing music, especially the recordings of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli. In 1974 he was instrumental in bringing Grappelli over from France to tour Western Canada and became dear friends with the jazz violin master. In the 1960s John occasionally sat in with CBC radio host Gren Marsh who broadcast weekly shows on vintage jazz from the Winnipeg CBC studios. Known as the ‘jazz fiddle freak’ to listeners of CKUA Radio (Alberta) in the 1970s, John was a guest on many programs with announcers Bill Coull, Holger Petersen and various others.
In keeping with John’s wishes, there will be no visitation hours or funeral service. A private family gathering will be held at a later date. Ferguson Knowles Funeral Home, 1657 Mountain Road, Moncton, (858-1995) in care of arrangements. In John’s memory, donations to Mgr. Henri Cormier Lodge (Dumont Hospital), the Canadian Red Cross or CKUA Radio (Alberta). Online condolences at
www.fergusonknowlesfh.com