John Joseph Currie

Currie, John Joseph - Passed away peacefully in QE11 Health Services Centre on April 13, 2011. Joe was born in Vernon River, PEI, in 1915. At the age of 19, he went to sea on a Maritime-based hydrographic survey ship. Intrigued by the seafaring lifestyle, Joe joined the RCN in 1939, and made the navy his career for 28 years. During the war he served on Canadian naval destroyers escorting merchant ships across the Atlantic to Great Britain. One of Joe’s wartime experiences was described in a moving story, Burial at Sea, in which he detailed the solemn burial of three merchant men whose bodies were plucked from the Atlantic after their ship was torpedoed. Joe had tremendous respect for merchant men, whose deaths at sea during convoy runs was a common occurrence. In 1945, Joe experienced firsthand the consequences of a torpedo when the stern of his ship was blown away by German U-boat 315. As Chief Petty Officer in charge of damage control, Joe remained on board as part of a skeleton crew assigned to keep the ship afloat. The destroyer, HMCS Teme, was successfully towed to Falmouth, England.

After serving in the Korean War, Joe was stationed with his family in Belfast, Northern Ireland. From 1953 to 1957, he helped supervise the completion of the construction of the Canadian aircraft carrier, HMCS Bonaventure. Proud of his role Canada’s navy, Joe has willed his numerous service medals to grandson Michael Currie, of Canada’s Queen’s Own Rifles.

As Joe’s naval career was winding down, a new passion evolved. He began playing duplicate bridge at a club at Stadacona. Attending numerous tournaments across North America, he became one of the leading players in the Maritimes. His passion for bridge never waned, nor did his prowess. Just ten months ago, he and his esteemed partner Virginia Giza bested almost 5000 other pairs from 28 countries in winning the 2010 Worldwide bridge contest.

Joe’s wife, Eleanor Currie, RN, died on December 29, 2002, after 62 years of marriage. Joe is survived by his sons, John, Toronto, Douglas, Bedford, granddaughter Angela, Missouri, grandson Michael, Toronto, great grand children Alex, Ryan, and Rachel, and his sisters Kay, Summerside, and Celia, Charlottetown.

Visitation will be held 4-8pm Friday, April, 15, at Cruikshank’s Funeral Home, 2666 Windsor St., Halifax. The funeral mass will be held on Saturday, 10:00 am, followed by a reception, at Blessed Mother Teresa Church, Normandy Drive.