John David O'Leary

John David O’Leary, known to most as David, Dad or Grandpa, passed away peacefully with his family close by at the age of 84 on December 29th, 2021, at the Queen Elizabeth II hospital in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, on the 27th of September, 1937. He was the son of the late Bernard and Paula (Lynch) O’Leary, and loving husband of the late Donna Maria (Pistone) O’Leary. He spent his school-age years in Armdale (now a part of Halifax), Nova Scotia, attending Saint Mary’s High School. He went on to study at the University of New Brunswick and Saint Francis Xavier University. He settled down in Halifax and married the love of his life, Donna, in 1965. As an engineer, he worked for his father’s construction company, followed by the Beaver Construction company, and finally the Halifax Water Commission. He grew up loving the ocean and spent many summers boating with his wife and sons, along with many friends. He also had a great talent and passion for gardening, having many admirers of his green thumb works at their cottage on Molega Lake. David and Donna made numerous lifelong friends and memories in Halifax, Molega Lake, as well as their winter retreat at Pierpoint in Florida (where David would golf with his friends as often as Donna would let him).

David will be lovingly remembered by his sons Shaun (Cheryl Teed) and their son Ryan, Stephen (Marie-Claire Lauzon) and their son Thomas, and his sister Peggy (John Hubbard). He was predeceased by his brother Edmund “Ted” George O’Leary, who is survived by his spouse Rosa (Brown) O’Leary.

All who knew David will remember him as a kind, caring and gentle man, who was always willing to roll up his sleeves and help with anything, especially if it had anything to do with building something or barbequing. He is less well known for his role as the teenaged sailboat skipper who ordered the firing of the boat’s starter cannon at the HMCS Bonaventure many years ago.

David enjoyed more than eight decades filled with love, friendship, and the ocean breeze. In his passing, he is now reunited with the love of his life.

Funeral services will be arranged at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in David’s memory can be made to Parkinson Canada, or the Parkinson’s Society of Nova Scotia.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.JASnowFuneralHome.com for the O'Leary family.