Brian Dale Bent

Brian Dale Bent died peacefully at his home in Prospect, Kings County, NS on October 17, 2020. He was 69. His wife of 46 years, Anna-Maria and all their children Tyler, Bridget, Meagan, and Leisha were at his side.

Son of Dorothy Pearl (née Marshall) and Bell telephone pioneer, Laurie Armstrong Bent, Brian was their middle child in a family of three sons: John (Winnie) Canso, NS and Rodney (Charlene) Kingsport, NS. Brian was predeceased by his parents and nephew, Kirk and is survived by his brothers and their families.

A strong-willed and sharp-minded chartered accountant, a gifted negotiator, with strong roots in the community, a quick wit always up for a story or a laugh, a human encyclopedia of song lyrics, quietly charitable, a love for super-heated food, a creature of habit, as well as a proud and devoted family man; Brian built a beautiful life for himself and his family with hard work and determination.

Born in Middleton on September 17, 1951 and raised in and around Middleton, Yarmouth, Kentville and Wolfville, Brian was independent from an early age. Misleading his brothers on many adventures as well as covering up and participating in a few schemes of others’ plotting as a child. Hitch-hiking across North America was a favourite story to hear as well as interesting journeys on gypsum boats in his early 20s.

After skipping grade 1 and going on to fail grade 10 math, Brian chose a career in accounting. He set off for Acadia University where he took part in campus security, was dubbed with the nickname "Lips" and fell in love with his sweetheart, Anna-Maria (Jones).

Following his Bachelor of Business Administration degree at Acadia (class of ‘75), Brian enrolled in a difficult course to earn his CA designation from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nova Scotia, graduating in 1978. His rigorous studying and preparatory style had him living his life in four hour time blocks for years after it was completed. In his early career, he was a lecturer to accounting students at Acadia University, sharing his knowledge and tips on preparatory style. Brian was a talented and successful chartered accountant, recognized especially for his ethical standards, helping many local businesses and individuals achieve their own successes over a career that spanned 32 years. He built his own accounting practice in Kentville alongside his colleagues and friends - a practice that still bears his name even now, 10 years into retirement. He also excelled in real estate development; buying, renovating, and managing commercial and residential properties. He had the foresight and core values to know what he wanted for his family and for himself and the determination and work ethic to bring that vision to reality.

Brian was also dedicated to his community, assisting the town of Kentville with many projects such as consulting on recycling and waste management programs as well as working with the Kentville Business Development Commission. Brian also volunteered with sports organizations such as the Kentville Minor Hockey Association and Coldbrook and District Soccer Association. An athlete himself, he grew up playing baseball, basketball and hockey, including playing in the Kentville old timers hockey league on the Pulsifer’s Petunia’s into his 40s. Brian was an active member of the South Alton Baptist Church, dedicating his time and professional expertise to their cause. He braved his fears and shared his cancer experience with the congregation and was met with incredible support from his church family on his journey.

Brian’s commitment to his family was everlasting and was shown in the many ways he supported them. Working on weekends and holidays to process firewood from his land, designing and building his own family home along with family and friends, raising cattle and other livestock to supplement the family income. Driving his children to and from pre-school and elementary school. Traipsing all over the province to get his kids to sporting events and participating in class field trips. There wasn’t a snowstorm that could prevent him from getting to the rink on time. Supporting his children through school and marriage and parenthood. His children have spread out across the continent since then giving him eight grandchildren: Tyler (Erica Harris), Edith and Agnes Bent, Nashville, TN; Bridget, Mischa and Brielle Dugas, Slave Lake, AB; Meagan (Glenn) Duncan, Winnipeg, MB; Leisha (Ryan) Vincent, Victoria, Xavier and Maria Scanlan, Perth, ON.

Brian’s love for the outdoors was palpable. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, bow hunting, picnicking, hiking, canoeing, swimming, cross country skiing and camping all with his family in tow. He also enjoyed snorkeling and scuba diving. His appreciation of vehicles began at an early age. Beginning with bicycles and canoes, onto motorcycles, fast cars and convertibles, next family vehicles and then boats. In his retirement, Brian found a new love for tractors, digging up dirt and making trails on his property surrounding his home. Brian’s favorite place to be was anywhere in, on or around the water. He owned many boats over the years, cruising out of their home port of Mahone Bay, most recently on his boat Kokomo. Capitan Brian loved to share all of this with his first mate Anna-Maria, eight grandchildren and their parents.

Perhaps growing from the adventures of his youth, Brian developed the travel bug. He took his entire family on many adventures around the world - most notably to Holland, Florida and the Bahamas. Along with his devoted wife they travelled to 38 countries including Scotland, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Russia, Ireland, England, Israel, Australia and Peru.

Brian could always be found with his favourite tunes playing along in the background. He had a knack for finding the perfect song in any situation. You never knew when in conversation a certain string of words would cause a lyric to leap out of his mouth and fill the room. Not always on tune but always on point, Brian’s love of music has definitely been shared and enjoyed by his entire family.

When Brian set his mind to something, very little could stop him - he really did create the world he wanted around him. Overcoming insurmountable odds, Brian fought his metastatic bladder cancer for a decade, a few times even coming up cancer free. He long outlived doctors’ predictions and was a medical anomaly or miracle. He and his wife spoke with the medical students at Dalhousie University to give them an insight on patient care and considering the entire picture. There’s no telling what a stubborn, strong willed individual can do to affect their own health. In Brian’s case, that determination and care allowed him to be with us to experience the births of all eight of his grandchildren in the time after initially being diagnosed with bladder cancer.

Forever known and remembered as Brian, Dad, and Grampie.

He has left big shoes to fill, set the bar high, modelled a lifestyle of devotion and dedication. Honesty and loyalty. Truth and love. A legacy of love. He is eternally loved and at peace in Heaven.

A private funeral service will be held in the White Family Funeral Home, Kentville. A public graveside committal service will be held at 4:00 p.m. Saturday, October 24, 2020 in the Lakeview Cemetery, Lakeville (6929 Highway 221, Lakeville, King County). An online webcast of the service will be available at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 24, 2020.

Donations in Brian’s memory may be made to the QEII Foundation/ACCRUE, Bladder Cancer Canada and/or the Alton Baptist Churches. Please send memories, photos, wishes and video anecdotes to the Facebook Memorial page. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Kentville.