CAIRNEY, John Dorrian C.D. passed away on August 22, 2010 at his home in Cordova Bay. Jack was born in Toronto in 1929 and joined the Royal Canadian Navy as a midshipman in 1948, where he trained on HMCS Ontario. He qualified as a Naval Air Observer and served in Naval Air Stations in UK, US, and Canada. He specialized in Naval Communications, serving on HMC Ships Magnificent, Assiniboine, Crescent, Bonaventure, and HMCS Saguenay as Executive Officer. In addition to sea duty, postings included Maritime Headquarters in Halifax (Stadacona), Dartmouth (Shearwater), Victoria (Naden), and Norfolk, Virginia (Westlant HQ/NATO). He was Naval Advisor to the International Truce Commission in Viet Nam in 1960 and Canadian Commissioner to Cambodia in 1961, earning the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal and the International Commission for Supervision and Control Service Medal. Jack retired from the Navy in 1976 to join a team of Canadians as Communications Consultants on a project to create a National Coast Guard for the government of Iran, which was halted by the fall of the Shah. He was a Certified Management Accountant and Certified Management Consultant working with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) on development projects in Asia, SE Asia, East Africa and the Caribbean. In 1990, he moved to Jakarta for 10 years where he was Project Management Advisor to the Government of Indonesia for accountancy development projects. While living in Indonesia, he travelled extensively throughout SE Asia with his beloved wife Betty. Betty and Jack retired to Key West Florida in 1999, and later moved to Victoria in 2006, where they settled in Cordova Bay. He was a keen squash player, and an avid swimmer, beachcomber, and snorkeler. He was passionate about his Sunday mornings with the NY Times, and loved the challenge of the NYT crossword. Jack was a member of the Naval Officers Association of Vancouver Island, the BC Maritime Museum and Church of St David By The Sea. Jack was predeceased by his wife Betty in 2008. He is survived by his five children, Claudia (and Marcel) Tessier of Victoria; Dr. Timothy (and Marlene) of Statesboro Georgia; Martha (and Dr Peter) March of Columbus Ohio; Matthew of Hamilton Bermuda and Mahone Bay,N.S; Pamela (and James) Bowen of Fredericton,N.B., 13 grandchildren and 3 great grand children, and by sisters Joan Clift of St John’s and Marie Cairney of Toronto.
The family would like to thank all the care givers for their compassionate support during our father’s illness. Condolences may be sent to Claudia Tessier, 3960A Cedar Hill Rd, Victoria BC V8N 3B8 email JDCairney@yahoo.com .
On Saturday October 9, 2010, a Memorial Service will be held in the Church of St David By The Sea in Cordova Bay at 1 p.m, and a Celebration of Life will be held at Beklens, 5166 Cordova Bay Rd. at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the BC Cancer Society.
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Meagan
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Danny Mosher I was so sorry to hear about your father’s passing. It is never easy regardless of age. I know he will be missed. I will remember him in my daily prayers. He was a ‘class act’! Your friend, Danny.
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Cdr. [ret] Frank Dayton My sincere condolences to the Cairney family
I was a care giver for Jack at his home is Cordova Bay. He was the nicest person I had the pleasure of working with. He enjoyed telling me about his travels, his family and his late wife. I have often thought of him over the years. My condolences to your family.