Thomas Edward Spracklin

Ed was born to Evelyn and Cyril Spracklin in 1923 in Saint John, NB. He grew up with his parents in Duncans Cove, NS, and in Halifax, where he boarded to attend school. Independent at an early age, he cultivated a love of reading and a deep curiousity about the world that sustained him throughout his life.

In 1940, Ed started a degree in history at Acadia University, and met the love of his life, Lorraine Holt. In 2020 they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. Ed left Acadia early to join the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy. He was in training in England when the war in Europe ended.

After the war, Ed completed his BA and went on to study dentistry at Dalhousie. Following his graduation in 1950, he and Lorraine married and moved to Campbellton, NB. There he launched his dental career and they welcomed their first two children, Linda and Donna. A third daughter, Kathryn, followed in 1965.

Ed and family spent two years in Toronto while he studied orthodontics before settling permanently in Halifax. In 1956, Ed began practice as the first orthodontist in the Maritimes. Patients travelled to see him from as far as Newfoundland, and he was generous and attentive in his treatment. His Coburg St. office was also renown, by Linda and Donna at least, for its endless supply of the best comic books.

In the late 1960s, Ed left full time private practice to return to Dalhousie Dental School as faculty. He was dedicated to enhancing dental education in general and the teaching of orthodontics in particular, and devoted to his students; when dental students established a professor of the year award, they selected Ed as the first recipient. Ed was also committed to dentistry as a public service.

After retiring from Dalhousie in 1990, Ed and Lorraine travelled around North America with a trailer visiting museums and historic sites, and calling in on friends and family along the way. Ed’s stamina for museums knew no bounds, and their week-long visit to the Smithsonian was a highlight of the trip.

After Ed and Lorraine moved to Spring Garden Road in 2002, they began hosting regular visits with their grandchildren living in the city. The ideas and energy of the younger generation fueled his curiousity as their love and attention inspired his generous spirit. It was a joyful and family focussed period that coincided with a new passion for computers and the internet. Ed learned video editing software to convert two-plus decades of his family videos into a set of DVDs, working closely with granddaughter Hillary to help him complete this legacy gift to the family. Into his final months, Ed’s daily reading of the New York Times online kept him engaged with the world.

Ed, we will miss your sense of humour, your intriguing questions, your genuine interest in all of us, your gentle care, and your open and accepting heart.

Ed will be remembered with love by daughters Linda (Andy Nette), Donna and Kathryn (Ingrid Stitt); grandchildren Hannah (Greg Van Popering), Farrell (Grayson Lloyd), Alison (Richard Weihers) and Hillary (Brian Riley) Nette; James David and Jeffrey (Katelyn Hillier) Heyman; and Ian (Gillian Sadler) and Oban MacTavish (Anni Ramsay); great grandchildren Cleo and Jesse Van Popering; Rowan, Evangeline, and Carys Lloyd; Hazel and Freya Weihers; and Ogden, Greta, and Nell Riley; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was predeceased by his wife of 70 years, Lorraine (Holt), and son-in-law Paul Heyman.

The family extends a special thank you to the many compassionate caregivers at 2nd floor Drummond Hall, Parkland Clayton Park, and the attentive staff of 5B Centennial Building, QE II.

A celebration of life will be held at JA Snow Funeral Home, Lacewood Drive, on December 19 from 6 to 8 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Operation Smile Canada.