Donald Joseph Cummings

Donald Joseph Cummings passed away peacefully at home on Thursday February 24th. He was born in Halifax and grew up in his family home in the South End of Halifax, and that’s where he chose to take his last breath.

Don is the last surviving member of his immediate family. He was the son of the late Frederick and Elizabeth Cummings

Don was pre deceased by his sisters Barbara Cummings, Margaret Legere, Joan Cummings and Ruth Sinnema.

In his final years he was taken care of at home by his friends Melanie and Gaetan.

Don never married, or had a family of his own, but got a taste of being a grandfather when Melanie would bring her boys Thomas, Lewis and Johnny over to visit. He enjoyed listening to them playing and having fun at his place.

And of course he always enjoyed his frequent visits by Margie Legere when she would come to drop some delicious foods.

Donough Murphy would also drop by from time to time so that he and Don could have spirited conversations and solve the worlds problems.

Don always appreciated the many phone calls and visits from his other friends and former employees. Especially his annual summer visits from England of Deirdre, Sheila and their families. Don took great pride in maintaining his cottage so visitors could have a place to stay and enjoy their vacation.

Don leaves behind many friends and family that will forever remember his feisty nature, big heart and love of life !

Don was blind, but it never seemed to be a disability for him. He started going blind in high school but just simply adjusted the way he lived to make up for his lack of sight. Initially he didn’t want anyone knowing that he was going blind so he began doing things like counting how many steps it took to walk from his house to the corner. This memorizing served him well all the way though his life. In recent times when he would be out for a drive to his cottage in Hubbards with Melanie, he would usually know where he was just by feeling the turns that the vehicle made. And when he and his friend Gaetan would cruise Spring Garden Road (Gaetan would do the driving), on the way to appointments, he would fondly remember his past on that street.

Don loved sitting around enjoying a glass of Rum and milk (with 4 ice cubes… not 3, not 5… but 4) recounting stories of his younger years riding the rails between Halifax and Montreal, where he worked in the dining car, or taking about his days working with Coca Cola, or flying to Dallas, Texas, or attending a Broadway musical in New York, or working with his father at the families Plumbing Company.

Don always seemed to find a way to experience life to the fullest.

Don attended Dalhousie University after High School to become an Electrical Engineer. Unfortunately his sight problems caused him to fail a course in his forth year and he had to return the following year (He never did forgive the professor that failed him). His eyesight deteriorated so much during that next year that he was forced to give up his dream of being an Electrical Engineer and switched to Civil Engineering.

After graduation Don worked with several companies doing Surveying, as well as Material testing work.

Don later went on to open his own company, Meritech Limited, where he performed material testing for roads, runways and many concrete construction projects throughout Nova Scotia.

Don was also a landlord for several properties he owned in Halifax. Working right up to shortly before his death.

Don took his last breath while listening to the music he loved and also listening to the news (two of his favorite things)

He was an engineer that calculated everything and lived most of his life blind… but still managed to live his life his way !

His friends will miss the spirted discussions about politics, history, medicine, horse racing, baseball and just about every current event happening in the world !

Don also enjoyed a good laugh when someone would tell him a joke that wasn’t meant for the more sensitive listeners !

Don clashed often with people because he was very headstrong… but he also had a heart of gold.

As Melanie said shortly after Dons death “I hope Don can finally see everything that he couldn’t see while he was alive”… we all hope so too !

Rest In Peace our friend. I’m sure wherever you are… you’re arguing about how things should be done ! Keep up the fight !

You’ll be missed by many !

A thank you to the Emergency Room Staff at the QEII hospital for putting up and taking care of Don.. even if it meant causing trouble by giving him a little bit extra orange juice, as well as all the nurses on 8.2, especially Vicky. And a very special thank you to Dr. Dr Nabha Shetty for all the help making dons last days comfortable, as well as Dr. Margaret Casey who stopped into Dons home frequently during the final days to give advice and make sure everyone was doing ok.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the CNIB in the Cumming’s family name.