Donald Moland MacPHERSON

MacPHERSON, Donald Moland - 83, Wolfville, passed away after an accident on Monday, March 19, 2007. He was a son of the late Archibald and Shirley (Moland) MacPherson. He is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Phyllis Elizabeth (Curry), who was seriously injured in the same accident. He is also survived by his children, Jim (Gladys), Don (Jean Bushell), Linda (Bob Patrick) and Susan (Gord Haley), and by his grandchildren who were the great pride of his retirement years, Blair and Jamie MacPherson, Meghann and Drew MacPherson, Jamesy and Rosalind Patrick, and Caitlin and Neil Haley. He is also survived by his twin brother and lifelong best friend, Archibald (Madeline), Edmonton; and by many nieces and nephews. Born in Halifax on April 8, 1923, he was educated at Kings College Academy where he was a member of a Provincial High School Championship Baseball Team in 1938. He was a graduate of Acadia University with a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Education and Master of Arts degrees, and also played on varsity hockey and rugby teams. He was successful, happy and fulfilled as a teacher, principal and supervisor in Yarmouth, Brookfield, New Germany, Centre (Lunenburg County), Bridgewater and Wolfville. He was devoted to the United Church and to youth sports programs in all of the communities where he lived. Donald served as a pilot in the RCAF in the Second World War and spent many years co-ordinating summer sports programs for the Air Cadet camps at Greenwood and Summerside. He was a great reader and student of history. In retirement, he loved fishing with his son Don, watching his grandchildren in all of their activities, the Acadia Axemen Hockey Team (a long-time season ticket holder), and, most of all, walking, reading, and traveling with the love of his life, Phyllis. At his request, Don has been cremated. Due to Phyllis' injuries, a memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at a later date, to be announced. When they were young, Don often read poetry to his children. He always ended with Abou Ben Adhem, which he knew by heart. In that poem, the Angel of the Lord asks Abou how he wants to be remembered and Abou replies, "Write me as one who loves his fellow man." The poem ends "The next night É Ben Adhem's name led all the rest." In the schools where he taught and the communities where he lived, Don exemplified Abou Ben Adhem's philosophy. Donations in Don's memory may be made to St. Andrew's United Church, Wolfville. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Serenity Funeral Home & Crematorium, P.O. Box 239, Port Williams, NS B0P 1T0. Donations or cards of sympathy may be sent to this address or on-line at: serenityfuneral@ns.sympatico.ca

The ChronicleHerald.ca | Wednesday March 21, 2007