Malcolm Jerome, Major (Ret.) RCAF, passed away in the loving arms of his daughters at the Royal Jubilee Hospital, Victoria, BC on November 15th, 2017, after suffering a stroke.
Malcolm “Mac” or “Cuddles”, as he was affectionately known, was born in New Waterford, Nova Scotia on June 20, 1928 to Angus A. and Honora MacDonald by whom he was predeceased, as well as by his sisters Mary MacNeil (Jerome) of Halifax, Alexandra “Sandra” of Toronto, Isabel Tull of Halifax, Sr. Margaret CND of Baddeck, NS, Helen “Traz” Abbass of Waverly, NS; brother John-Hugh “Dude” (Beatrice) of New Waterford, NS; and his infant son Gerard born in 1960. He is survived by his cherished wife of 66 years Mary (nee Abbass) of Victoria; his daughters Honora Johannesen (Sigurd) of Victoria, Lillian Szpak (Robert) of Langford, BC, Ann-Marie (Alisa) of Montreal; his son John-Hugh (Mary) of Orillia, ON; grandchildren Malcolm (Sonya), Lillian (Rick), Michael (Tanya), Patrick (Bryna), Isabel, Lora, Ruth, Audrey and Henry; and great-grandchildren Declan, Connor, Theo, Gemma, Theresa, Katherine, Charlie and Dallas; as well as many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews and cousins.
Mac was the kindest, most generous, sensitive, wisest and wittiest man there ever was. A coal miner and boxer from a tough Cape Breton town, he put himself through St. Francis Xavier University while working in “the pit” and was commissioned as an officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1954. He served at Namao, AB; Baden-Soellingen, Germany; Centrallia, ON; Hamilton, ON where he earned his MBA from MacMaster University; Kingston, ON where he taught at Royal Military College and Queen’s University; and Ottawa, ON where he left the military after 20 years for a sterling career with the Department of External Affairs where, during his final working years, he travelled to nearly every Canadian embassy abroad, usually with Mary – his “little dark-haired nurse” – by his side. In retirement, he devoted himself to humanitarian work with the Canadian International Demining Corps, and together with Mary served meals at the Shepherds of Good Hope soup kitchen in Ottawa. A voracious reader and keen thinker, Mac was respected, admired and much sought-after for personal and professional advice by all who knew him. He instilled in his children, grand, and great-grandchildren a sense of adventure, humour, self-reliance, respect for diversity, resiliency, and optimism, and that each were special and loved uniquely. He honored Mary with a life well-lived, full of love, adventure, romance, devotion, and dignity.
The family wishes to thank the Emergency Room staff at RJH who, along with Dr. Fred Voon, provided the kindest and most comforting care. We would also like to thank Drs. Michelle Fretz and Laura Farrell for their unfailing expert care and compassion.
A Private Funeral Mass will be held Monday, November 20th, 2017 at 1:00 pm at Mount Saint Mary Hospital, Victoria, followed by an open reception from 6 to 8 pm at the Royal Colwood Golf Club, 629 Goldstream Avenue, Victoria, BC. Interment to be announced at Beechwood Cemetery, Ottawa, in June of next year.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Mount Saint Mary Hospital, 861 Fairfield Road, Victoria, BC V8V 5A9.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
21 Responses
You are in my thoughts and prayers at this sad time! Mac was an example of a life lived to the fullest! The memories I have make me give thanks that I knew this man and spent many happy occasions with him!
Hugs to Mary, Honora, Lillian, Ann-Marie, John Hugh, their spouses and children!!
Carmel and Bud Holgate