CANN, WALTER GORDON - It is with great sadness that the family of Walter (Bud) Cann of Saint John, announce his death which occurred after a very brief illness on March 24th, 2012 at the Saint John Regional Hospital. Born January of 1932, he was the son of the late Gordon Saint Clair and Dorothy Frances (Bettle) Cann. A past member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Bud was a salesman of plumbing and heating equipment for two companies, James Robertson and EMCO. Later, he owned K&P Atlantic and sold air conditioningand ventilation equipment eventually retiring in 2001. Unknown to most, Bud led an interesting and largely secret second life. He was a deep cover agent for the organization called the United Commercial Travelers. Appearingto be a traveling salesman of heating systems was a perfect cover story forhiding the long and storied career of an international man of mystery. In the early years, while acting as special liaison with local law enforcement, he met his beloved Elizabeth Ann Desmond. Elizabeth was the only daughter of the head of the department who was known as "The Sheriff". Despite operating under sometimes precarious conditions (oneparticularly arduous moment involved a car and a cow... the entire mission details are still classified), they were married, and remained so for 53 years. Eventually, he successfully executed his marital obligations adding three new underlings (agents Denise Marie Cann-Grove (Tim) of Okotoks, AB, Geoffrey Saint Clair (Marjorie) of Calgary, AB, Jonathan Edward (Deborah) of Saint John) to his team in quick succession. Upon hearing that "a man's home is his castle", agent Bud (ever the literalist) proceeded to acquire "Dunanoir" the legendary white elephant castle. After a brief hiatus to consolidate his position, he advanced aggressively, quickly developing three more agents (Brian Daniel (Natalie) of Kingston, ON, TimothyJeremiah (Corinne) of Banff, AB and Stephen Andrew of Canmore). Bud was known to dabble in chain smoking for a short-time but like many other famous persons didn't inhale. In later years, Bud was an avid golfer in the summer, a curler in the winter, and high-stakes bridge player year-around. Counter intelligence has remarked that as a well trained agent, he knew to always check the dessert table before sitting and to place himself in the most strategic position possible. He loved organ meat (liver and kidneys), fortunately never with Chianti and fava beans. He had an intense hatred for all types of small furry rodents. He was a crack marksman with a pellet gun and would not hesitate repel any and all threats to hearth and home. It is rumoured in agency circles that agent Bud was responsible for the assassination of the terror known as Sam the Squirrel. He also tangled with a group known as "The Raccoon Gang" on several occasions. While managing several times to temporarily detain some of their members, he was ultimately unsuccessful in eliminating the ringleaders. One long time career disappointment was that he did not receive his certificate in parachute jumping despite undertaking strenuous winter training off the roof of Dunanoir in the 1980's. His team meetings were legendary for being "short and vicious" and decisions were made with a ruthless efficiency, often punctuated with an impatient idiosyncratic tapping motion of his middle finger. Every super hero needed a super hideout and Bud was no exception. It can now be revealed that he would occasionally retreat to a lair on someplace called Briar Island. In recognition for financial services rendered Bud received an honorary citation from the Publishers Clearing House. In later years it is suspected that Bud had been “flipped” by a foreign agency and had gone rogue. He was now going by the moniker "The Grandfather" and photographs indicate that he may have been traveling with bodyguards and had an entourage known only as "The Family" (seven grandchildren Nathan Alexander, Bridget Marie, Ryan Patrick, Alexander Walter, Liam Joseph, Matthew Timothy, andJennifer Sarah; brothers-in-law Vincent, Joseph and Bernard, sisters-in-law Anne and Joan, cousins, nieces, nephews and many friends). It is rumoured that hislast known words were "You horses arse ya!"
Resting at Fundy Funeral Home 230 Westmorland Road (646-2424) with visitations on Monday, March 26th from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated from St. Ann's Catholic Church, 135 Simpsons Drive on Tuesday, March 27th at 11:00 a.m. Interment to follow at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery. Donations in Bud's memory can be made to the IWK, Kidney Foundation or to the Divine Mercy Catholic School. To send a message of condolence please visit www.fundyfuneralhome.com "I'm Walter Cann, and I approve this message". Paid for by the committee to enhance the reputation of Bud Cann.