John Starr

John Starr had a lengthy and rich life. After completing his B.Sc. from McMaster University in 1952, John worked as a chemist and administrator for Dow Chemical in Sarnia, Ontario. He married Audrey Inch in 1955 and they had two daughters, Jane and Alison. After he was transferred to Dow’s Edmonton facility in 1961, they welcomed sons, Tommy and Peter. Tommy died in 1964. John left Dow to work for Raylo, and later did private consulting and worked for the Alberta Research Council. He and Audrey separated in 1981.

In 1986 a matchmaking friend thought that that two single people, each with a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, might have something in common and introduced him to Susan Markham. It worked, and in 1987, when Susan accepted a teaching position at Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, they moved east, and he found his true home there. He worked as Director of the Acadia Institute until his retirement in 1992. John and Susan were married in 1992. The first two dogs, Gilly and Paddy, were succeeded by Barnaby and then Jack, as well as several pairs of cats – most recently Will and Kate.

Most people knew John as a winemaker, a sailor, a woodworker, a curler and a chef. His wine making prowess was recognized at both the provincial and national levels with numerous gold medals. He grew grapes at "The Vineyard," was a judge in competitions, and mentored many new winemakers both as a member of the Halifax-Dartmouth Wine Circle and as a founding member of the Annapolis Valley Vintners. In the first full summer that he was in Wolfville he led tasting tours at Grand Pré Winery when it was owned by Roger Dial. His knowledge and teaching were appreciated by both the winemakers and the wine drinkers.

John and his 24-foot Westerly Centaur sailboat, Roçinante (named after Don Quixote’s horse), sailed around Chester Basin and in one epic summer along the Eastern Shore, through the Strait of Canso and over to PEI. He sold the boat in 1998.

He was known for building and fixing. He built beautiful furniture and crafted sets and props for many community groups, including the Atlantic Theatre Festival, Fezziwig, and the Women of Wolfville. Fezziwig audience members will remember a Cinderella’s coach that magically morphed from a pumpkin to a coach before their eyes. And then there was the year that an antique loveseat prop was repaired backstage between performances with the aid of glue and TheraBands.

John chose not to join Susan on the golf course, but curled with the seniors at the Wolfville Curling Club and was feted as a Super Senior in 2004.

Always artistic, he took up watercolours and created wonderful botanical art and many annual Christmas cards.

John was an amazing cook. He even catered his and Susan’s wedding reception! Many of us think that his most amazing endeavour was baking the loaves of bread that raised well over $2000 for the Cancer Navigators Program when auctioned off at the annual KenWo Women’s Scramble for Cancer Care, over at least 10 years. One year his loaf was auctioned off for $600!

His circle of friends was (and still is) wide and varied; including neighbours, Susan’s colleagues and students, members of the University Club where he was President in 1990-91, winemakers and wine drinkers, the Friday afternoon Bill’s Bunch at The Library Pub, the Saturday afternoon crew at Horton Ridge Malt House, and lots of people who appreciated his knowledge and wit.

John had 93 good years and seven months of illness. He moved to the Annapolis Valley Hospice on Wednesday, January 26, and died there surrounded by his family.

He is survived by his wife Susan, his children Jane, Alison, and Peter, and their families, his older brother Bill, five nieces and a nephew. He was predeceased by his young son Tommy and his sister, Margaret Vance.