Alistair Watt
Born In: England
Born: July 11th, 1944
Passed in: Baddeck
Passed on: August 26th, 2013
Alistair William Watt, 69, of Goose Cove, Victoria County, died gracefully but reluctantly in Baddeck on Aug. 26, 2013.
He was born in Salisbury, England on July 11, 1944, to the late William Nicoll Watt and Deborah Margaret (Mathers) Watt.
In 1952, the family moved from Scotland to Canada, arriving at Pier 21 in Halifax on the liner Franconia.
Alistair grew up in Halifax, a city he loved deeply and in which he made his way with panache. He studied philosophy, classics, computer science and education at Dalhousie, and found his niche as a youth worker and later as a teacher at NSCC.
In 1980, he married Lois McVannel and they had two sons, Duncan and Fergus. In retirement, Alistair built his dream house in Cape Breton and moved there intending to live out his life by a babbling brook, playing music and watching movies with his friends and discussing the meaning of life.
He is survived by his sons, and fondly remembered by his former wife, Lois McVannel. He also leaves behind two sisters in Halifax, Penny Pothier and Sheila Watt (Andy McVicker); two brothers, John Watt (Noella), Fredericton, and Andy Watt (Susan Zettell), North Shore, C.B.; relatives in Canada and the U.K.; many, many grieving friends and his beloved Cape Breton “family,” established over 40 years ago and lovingly nurtured all these years.
Alistair deeply appreciated the many kindnesses he received during his three-year illness, including friends and neighbours, the care of his son Duncan during the last year, the wonderful professionals who came to his house to help out, and the incredibly caring hospital staff in Baddeck who made the end of his life easier.
Donations may be made in his memory to the St. Ann’s Bay Community Health Group Society, the Hospice Society of Victoria County or the Victoria County Memorial Hospital Foundation.
The family will hold an open house from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 1 at Andy and Susan’s house at 45224 Cabot Trail. Alistair has asked that friends gather at his place that same evening at 7 p.m., for a farewell ceremony starting at 7:30 p.m., followed by the kind of evening of music and good company that he lived for (bring food, music and stories!).
