NEW GLASGOW – John T. MacLeod, 86, of New Glasgow, passed away suddenly on April 21st, 2008, at the Aberdeen Hospital. Born in Westville, December 8th, 1921, John was the son of the late W.H. and Bessie (Sutherland) MacLeod. On May 6th, 1942, John joined the RCAF and became a pilot officer during WWII. He was shot down over Italy in the spring of 1944 when he had to parachute out of his burning spitfire. John spent almost a year as a prisoner of war. During his time as a prisoner he was a part of the “Forced March” that involved over 100,000 POW’s. He survived a 21-day ordeal marching from Poland to Germany. Because he saved his life by parachuting from a disabled airplane, he became a lifelong member of the caterpillar club. John earned his B.Com from Mount Allison and Dalhousie and subsequently studied and obtained his CA through Queen’s University. He worked for many years for Sobeys and was president of Johnson & MacDonald’s Ltd. when he retired in 1987. During his retirement he loved working at the Millstream Christmas Tree Farm with his family. Throughout his life John was an avid sportsman. He was involved in many sports over the years including baseball, hockey, softball, bowling, rugby and golf. He was inducted into the Pictou County Sports Heritage Hall of Fame in 2000. He spent many years on the board of directors of the Abercrombie Golf and Country Club where he was an active lifetime member and golfed every possible day of his retirement walking all 18 holes until the age of 84. He even had three holes in one in his golfing career. John was very involved in the Heather Figure Skating club, serving as the president and other voluntary positions while his children were growing up. John was a member and an Elder of Trinity United Church. John is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Jean (Ward), formerly of Eureka; daughter-in-law, Ruth (Scott), Millstream and her children Ella Jean and Alex; Beverley (Henry) Salomons, Sherwood Park, Alberta, and their children: Melanie, Stephen and Greg; John (Beverley) MacLeod, Thorburn and their children, Shane and Troy; son-in-law, Cliff McLeod and his children, Robert and Margo; daughter, Shirley (Michael) Rushton, Hamilton, Ontario, and their children: Moira, Aileen, Mitchell, and Emily; great-grandchildren: Mary Jean, Morgan Matwie, Raleigh, Kaitlyn, and Annabelle MacLeod. John is also survived by his sister, Isabel (Dr. Doug) Black, Digby, brother, Neil MacLeod, New Glasgow, and sister, Alice (Clarence) Nelson, Millbrook. Predeceased by his sister, Katherine MacLeod; son, Jim MacLeod; and daughter, Debbie McLeod. John and his sense of humour will be sadly missed by his family and many friends, especially his early morning golf and coffee buddies. Visitation will be Thursday 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at H.W. Angus Funeral Home, New Glasgow. Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Trinity United Church with Diaconal Minister Lori Crocker officiating. Internment in Heatherdale Gardens. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation and Canadian Cancer Society.