Capt. John 'Jack' Kean
Born In: Pound Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Passed in: North Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed on: November 6th, 2011
It is with great sadness we announce the passing of our father, Capt. John ‘Jack’ Kean, age 95, on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011, at Harbour View Hospital in Sydney Mines, where he recently resided.
Born in Pound Cove, N.L., Dec. 9, 1915, Jack was the eldest son of Capt. Llewellyn and Delilah Kean.
He was a member of St. Matthew Wesley United Church, North Sydney.
He was predeceased by his wife of 57 years, Audrey (Hill) Kean in September 2007 and his brother, James (Olive) in September 2006.
Jack spent over 55 years at sea, starting in 1929 at age 14, working onboard various fishing schooners captained by his father during the summer cod fishery off Labrador and as a sealer during the annual seal hunt off the northeast coast of Newfoundland. During this time Jack honed his seafaring skills and proceeded to obtain his watch keeping and mate’s tickets and in 1942 obtained his master’s certificate.
From 1939 until 1944, during the Second World War, he served in the Merchant Marine as an officer on various ships.
Over the next 36 years, Jack captained many steam ships and motor vessels owned and operated by the Newfoundland Railway, CNR, CN Marine and Marine Atlantic. These ships provided a vital link to the outports of Newfoundland and Labrador and served as an extension of the Trans-Canada Highway between North Sydney and Port aux Basques after Newfoundland joined Confederation.
The ships and vessels he captained during his career included the SS Clyde, SS Clarenville, SS Glenwood, SS Baccalieu, SS Burgeo, SS Random, SS Cabot Strait, MV Nonia, MV Patrick Morris, MV Leif Eriksson, MV Marine Cruiser, MV William Carson (1966-1977) and the MV Ambrose Shea (1977-1980).
Upon his retirement, in August 1980, he continued to work another four years as an ice pilot in the Gulf of St. Lawrence guiding ships to Montreal.
In his younger years Jack was an avid sports fisherman and hunter and enjoyed very much the outings that took place around these activities, especially with his family and friends in Newfoundland.
Prior to Newfoundland joining Canada in 1949, Jack was very active in the Orange Lodge. He was also a past member of the Northern Yacht Club in North Sydney.
In retirement, Jack enjoyed reading Western fiction novels, doing crossword puzzles, playing cribbage, 120s and 45s with Audrey, family and friends, going out jigging for fish with his closest friends, puttering around in the yard on Caledonia Street and cooking up a scoff of traditional Newfoundland food.
Known for spinning a good yarn, Jack loved sitting down, having a few drinks with family and friends to reminisce about the many experiences and people he encountered during his 55 years at sea.
Left with fond and loving memories are his daughters, Ruby (Boyd Parsons), Long Island, with whom he resided the past 8 1⁄2 years, Joan (Les Howie) and his son John, both in Halifax; three grandchildren, Andrew, Adrian and Kathryn; one older sister, Frances Winsor, St. John’s, N.L.; and two special nephews, Mun and Bud, Wesleyville, N.L.; and also a large circle of other relatives and friends.
He will be sorely missed by his family, many relatives and friends.
Special thanks to Dr. Paul Hickey, for care and concern shown to Jack over the years, and also to Tena Williams, Mary Jackson and Bernadette Finney and the nursing staff at Harbour View Hospital in Sydney Mines.
Visitation for Jack will be held from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m., Tuesday in the W.J. Dooley Funeral Home, 107 Pleasant St., North Sydney. Funeral service will be held at 2:30 p.m., Wednesday in the funeral home chapel with Rev. David Luker officiating. Burial to follow in Lakeside Cemetery, North Sydney.
Memorial donations may be made to Harbour View Hospital Veterans Wing.
Online condolences may be sent to www.wjdooley.com.
