Obituary for John Hugh MacSween
JOHN HUGH MACSWEEN
1950 - 2019
It is with great sadness, that the family of the late John Hugh MacSween announce his passing at the Central Newfoundland Regional Health Centre in Grand Falls-Windsor, NL, on June 26, 2019 at the age of 68.
He is predeceased by his parents, Hugh and Annie MacSween, brother, Michael, and sister, Mary. Leaving to mourn with fond and loving memories are his wife of 41 years, Cheryl, sons, Kristopher (Joy) of Antigonish, NS, and Ian (Nicole) of Lower Sackville, NS, daughter, Courtney, of Bedford, NS and his beautiful grandchildren, Nicklaus, Ella, Fia and Rory. Also leaving to mourn are his sisters, Agnes (Les) of Bedford, NS, Margaret (Frank) of New Waterford, NS, and, brothers, Hector (Cheryl) of Point Edward, NS and Sandy (Liz) of Bedford, NS, sister in-law Anita MacSween of Halifax, NS, many nieces and nephews and a wide circle of friends. John was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend.
He met the love of his life, Cheryl during the 1975 summer break in Cape Breton. Married on May 20th, 1978 they went on to create a loving family and were just settling into life as grandparents, spoiling Nicklaus, Ella, Fia and Rory.
Born in East Bay, NS, John was a gifted athlete and mainstay on the local ball fields and ice covered ponds. He led a storied athletic career, starting with pitching a no hitter in the summer of 1961. He was an outstanding hockey player, playing for numerous teams including the St.FX X-Men’s hockey team and the Grand Falls Cataracts. He would talk about the many great memories and friends from those days and loved to listen to ‘Big Strong Man”, a popular sing along on the team bus and favourite on his ‘jigs and reels’ driving playlist.
After hanging up his playing skates, he would go on to coach for many years. John said his favourite part of coaching was seeing players master new skills. He led many talented teams including the Triple AAA midget Artic Blast, Grand Falls Cataracts, the 1991 Newfoundland and Labrador Canada Games Team, and the Exploits Valley High Eagles. In 1992, John was awarded the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal, recognizing his contribution to the community for his volunteer work.
It is no surprise that John was a successful coach after a 39-year career as a teacher. After graduating from X in 1972, he began his love affair with NL with a stint at Notre Dame Academy, returning to NS for a year of teaching in Antigonish, before being offered the teaching role at St. Francis Xavier Elementary where he spent the majority of his career. He spent his final teaching years at Avoca Collegiate, finally retiring in 2002 from Exploits Valley High. Retirement didn’t last long. John and Cheryl started a new chapter in their life when they moved to St. Georges Hill, SK to teach for another 9 years. There, they were welcomed into another community and made many life long friends.
To say he was an avid golfer would be an understatement. Everyone wanted a round with Mac. He had the ability to connect with anyone and make every round an absolute joy. It didn’t hurt that he could also sink some monster putts! He especially loved taking all the quarters he could off the boys. The Grand Falls Golf Club was so much more than a game of golf to him. It was a community of friends and family and he loved being a part of it.
The only other place he would rather be in the summer would be a day spent at the beach in Cape Breton riding the waves with his family. Memories of summers spent in the Highlands are held in our hearts with the utmost of love and delight.
John was the kindest, gentlest soul with a wicked sense of humour. He would welcome anyone he met with a smile and a story. There are no words to describe how we will miss his unmistakeable chuckle and twinkle in his eyes. We love you so much.
Father Tom Duffenais will conduct the funeral mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Grand Falls-Windsor, NL, on Monday, July 1, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be held at a later date at the Saint Mary’s Roman Catholic Cemetery in East Bay, Cape Breton, NS. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Michael Goodyear of Central Funeral Homes.
1950 - 2019
It is with great sadness, that the family of the late John Hugh MacSween announce his passing at the Central Newfoundland Regional Health Centre in Grand Falls-Windsor, NL, on June 26, 2019 at the age of 68.
He is predeceased by his parents, Hugh and Annie MacSween, brother, Michael, and sister, Mary. Leaving to mourn with fond and loving memories are his wife of 41 years, Cheryl, sons, Kristopher (Joy) of Antigonish, NS, and Ian (Nicole) of Lower Sackville, NS, daughter, Courtney, of Bedford, NS and his beautiful grandchildren, Nicklaus, Ella, Fia and Rory. Also leaving to mourn are his sisters, Agnes (Les) of Bedford, NS, Margaret (Frank) of New Waterford, NS, and, brothers, Hector (Cheryl) of Point Edward, NS and Sandy (Liz) of Bedford, NS, sister in-law Anita MacSween of Halifax, NS, many nieces and nephews and a wide circle of friends. John was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend.
He met the love of his life, Cheryl during the 1975 summer break in Cape Breton. Married on May 20th, 1978 they went on to create a loving family and were just settling into life as grandparents, spoiling Nicklaus, Ella, Fia and Rory.
Born in East Bay, NS, John was a gifted athlete and mainstay on the local ball fields and ice covered ponds. He led a storied athletic career, starting with pitching a no hitter in the summer of 1961. He was an outstanding hockey player, playing for numerous teams including the St.FX X-Men’s hockey team and the Grand Falls Cataracts. He would talk about the many great memories and friends from those days and loved to listen to ‘Big Strong Man”, a popular sing along on the team bus and favourite on his ‘jigs and reels’ driving playlist.
After hanging up his playing skates, he would go on to coach for many years. John said his favourite part of coaching was seeing players master new skills. He led many talented teams including the Triple AAA midget Artic Blast, Grand Falls Cataracts, the 1991 Newfoundland and Labrador Canada Games Team, and the Exploits Valley High Eagles. In 1992, John was awarded the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal, recognizing his contribution to the community for his volunteer work.
It is no surprise that John was a successful coach after a 39-year career as a teacher. After graduating from X in 1972, he began his love affair with NL with a stint at Notre Dame Academy, returning to NS for a year of teaching in Antigonish, before being offered the teaching role at St. Francis Xavier Elementary where he spent the majority of his career. He spent his final teaching years at Avoca Collegiate, finally retiring in 2002 from Exploits Valley High. Retirement didn’t last long. John and Cheryl started a new chapter in their life when they moved to St. Georges Hill, SK to teach for another 9 years. There, they were welcomed into another community and made many life long friends.
To say he was an avid golfer would be an understatement. Everyone wanted a round with Mac. He had the ability to connect with anyone and make every round an absolute joy. It didn’t hurt that he could also sink some monster putts! He especially loved taking all the quarters he could off the boys. The Grand Falls Golf Club was so much more than a game of golf to him. It was a community of friends and family and he loved being a part of it.
The only other place he would rather be in the summer would be a day spent at the beach in Cape Breton riding the waves with his family. Memories of summers spent in the Highlands are held in our hearts with the utmost of love and delight.
John was the kindest, gentlest soul with a wicked sense of humour. He would welcome anyone he met with a smile and a story. There are no words to describe how we will miss his unmistakeable chuckle and twinkle in his eyes. We love you so much.
Father Tom Duffenais will conduct the funeral mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Grand Falls-Windsor, NL, on Monday, July 1, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be held at a later date at the Saint Mary’s Roman Catholic Cemetery in East Bay, Cape Breton, NS. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Michael Goodyear of Central Funeral Homes.