Donovan Coward
Lieu de naissance : Whitney Pier
Lieu de décès : Dartmouth
Date de décès : 21 janvier 2015
Donovan passed away on Wednesday, January 21, 2015, at the Dartmouth General Hospital.
He was born in Sydney (Whitney Pier), Cape Breton to parents of Barbadian descent.
Donovan's pride and joy was his six children and his family especially his mother. At age ten he began formal training in classical piano with his father. He strongly believed in education, graduating from Sydney Academy, and pursued science at St. Francis Xavier University from1948 to1950. Donovan worked at the Sydney Steel Plant, he also worked as a freelance performer and piano teacher. In the 1960's, he was approached by CBC to record a series of jazz segments for the radio, along with local performers, together they became the Don Coward Trio. Donovan became the first African Nova Scotian union president of the Cape Breton Musicians Association. Donovan became part of the MGM Company in Honolulu that performed as a backup musician for the MGM stars in Los Angeles and Hawaii. Subsequent to his gig with MGM, Donovan worked with the Canadian Coast Guard until his retirement in 1989. After retiring, he joined the Alliance of Canadian Cinema Television and Radio Artists. He appeared in many roles including a Milk Producers of Canada commercial, performing with great actors such as Danny Glover and Tom Selleck and a speaking role in the featured film "One Heart Broken into Song". Additionally, Donovan participated as the pianist in the Louis Armstrong play called the Sachmo Suite along with Doug 'Bobo' Innis.
He was the son of the late Arthur Reginald and Lillian (Blackman) Coward. He is survived by his sons, Allister Toronto, Kevin (Betty), Dartmouth, Joyce (Allan) Dartmouth, Curtis (Quenta), Dartmouth, Shane (Maria), Dartmouth, and Liana, Toronto. He is also survived by his siblings, Clotilda (Coward-Douglas)Yakimchuk, C.M., Sydney, Thelma Coward-Ince, Dartmouth, Reginald (Judy), Halifax, Rubin (Deborah), Sackville, Cecilia Close (Curtis), Sydney, Ethel Tomlinson (Rex), Missouri, Cephas (Jennifer), Calgary, Clara, Dartmouth and numerous nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by brother, Sinclair Grannum, Alfred Coward, and grandson, Justin Coward. He will be missed beyond words by his family and friends.
Visitation to be held from 7-9 p.m. Friday, January 23, 2015 with a funeral service 2 p.m. Saturday, January 24, Rev. Lennett Anderson officiating both in Atlantic Funeral Home, 771 Main St., Dartmouth. A repass to follow at the Somme Branch Legion 31 on King St., Dartmouth from 4-7 p.m.
The family ask that donations be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.atlanticfuneralhomes.com (Dartmouth Chapel).
“Rest in Peace and you will be sadly missed and forever loved.”
