David Allan Wilson

Dr David Allan Wilson, military historian and man of too many hats, is now, sadly, an endearing member of our family history. Befittingly, he left this mortal coil on August 15, which coincidentally was also the birthday of his hero, Napoleon Bonaparte. While enjoying a coffee on the balcony and rereading Napoleon: A Portrait of His Life, he was distracted by four deer emerging from the woods. Amidst this peaceful scene, his heart, defective from birth and scarred from a valve repair eight weeks prior, began its lament. After braving hours of surgery for a torn aorta, our hero, who conquered many hearts in his day, threw down the gauntlet and sailed out of our lives, hopefully in the wooden boat he had been dreaming of constructing for the past twenty years.

Early in his youth, Dr Dave adopted his father’s motto “Never complain. Never explain.” The few selected friends and family he held close, agree he was born a century too late. He reveled in the past, tolerated the present, and cursed the future. A stickler for tradition, he dressed suitably for every occasion and had great disdain for ball caps and “pajama bottoms” worn in public by men over twenty-three.

Growing up as a “South-End Snob, the “little prince” began his career as Robert Stanfield’s and Mrs. Angus McKay’s paper boy. After graduation from Queen Elizabeth High, he obtained a B.A. from Dalhousie in 1970. From there he enrolled in the Hippie culture along with Erskine Smith and Peter Morrison who together pursued their shared interests in “smart women” and “spiritual condiments.” He married Monya Francis in 1983 and became stepdad to “cute” four-year old Nic and welcomed their “tiny, perfect daughter, Morgan.

Throughout his interesting life, he was a self-proclaimed champion apple picker, a genuinely talented leather smith, haberdasher, seamster, furniture maker, military miniature designer, gym goer, and bread maker.

In 1992, he fell back into the clutches of his one true love, Clio, the Muse of History. As a mature student, he attained an M.A. and at the age of fifty-six earned a Ph.D. in military history from the University of New Brunswick, Fredericton in 1997. During that time, he also fell for an “amusing” mature student. For the next thirty plus years, he and Pat professed in their chosen fields within The Ivory Tower. At UNB, David taught everything from tanks and battles of World War I and World War II and Canadian and World History, Irish History at St Thomas and military history to post-graduates from The Royal Military College, Ottawa. After his retirement, he fashioned doll and cat furniture, experimented with French cuisine, and started a novel in which McKenzie King foresaw the future. During his retirement years, he and Pat fostered nearly two hundred cats and kittens.

When Pat retired from UNB, his wish to return to his beloved Halifax was finally granted and in 2022 the couple moved into a senior apartment complex in Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia. After enjoying several trips to France, Spain, and the Mediterranean, when COVID abated, they renewed their love of travel by sailing the Rhine in January, with a trip to the Danube scheduled for October.

David loved boats and enjoyed nothing more than sailing on the Arm with schoolmate, John Snow, Jr. At the time, his plan was to join the navy but was turned down because of poor eyesight. His eyesight may have diminished slightly over the years but not his love of boats. His fondest childhood memories, of which there are many, are of summers spent paddling on the lakes and inlets of the South Shore with his dad.

The wise words of Herodotus the Father of History speak to Dr Dave’s frustrations with the world which he heatedly expressed at the television screen every night during the six o’clock news. “Of all men’s miseries, the bittersweet is this: to know so much and to have control over nothing.”

David was predeceased by an infant brother in 1944; by his skilled and practical seamstress mother in 1997 and by his beloved father, Lloyd George Wilson, customs officers and storyteller extraordinaire in 2008. He forever mourned the untimely passing of his cousin Ron MacMillan in 1985.

Surviving are his uncommon wife Dr Patricia Post; sister, Mary Lou Wilson, Wolfville; daughter, Morgan Wilson, Halifax (Donnie); stepson Nick Anthon, Vancouver, (Cynthia); stepsons, Robin, Markus and Zachary Smyth; nephew Damion Spark, (Toronto) Anne. Nieces Jasmine Mousa (Kal) (Halifax) and Jessica Kelly. Grandchildren, Storm and Reign Smyth; Violet Wilson-Foster; Conner and Jax Smyth, Edmonton, several great nieces and nephews, and his feline companions Sir Sydney Squeak and Jackie Oh-No!

Family and friends salute Dr Roger Basket and his skilled surgical team and all the indefatigable team of nurses and staff on the Cardiac Care Unit of the QEII.

A celebration of David’s life is scheduled for his 78th birthday, on Thursday, August 29, at the Amarone Theatre, 210 Appaloosa Run, Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia during his regularly scheduled nap time from 2 to 5 p.m.

Please send any donations in honour of Dr David Allan Wilson to CARMA (Cat Rescue Maritimes) e-transfers accepted at [email protected].