William Andrew Sutherland

Sutherland, William Andrew “Bill” (78) - It is with great sadness that Bill’s family announces his passing on Dec. 22, in Dartmouth General Hospital after a courageous battle with COPD. It seems ironic that Bill would pass away at Christmastime. For many years he dressed up as Santa, to the delight of many children who thought he was the genuine article, with his jolly laugh and white hair. Bill was the oldest son of George Henry and Margaret Hazel (Atwater) Sutherland. In his younger years he lived in Marshy Hope and moved to Linacy, Pictou County at the age of 10. As a young boy the art of salesmanship began when he sold greeting cards. At New Glasgow High School in 1953 he was Pipe Major of the cadet band. He had many fond memories of the band and his classmates. He worked at Maritime Steel for a short period and then started his career with Zurich Insurance. After 25 years with Zurich he joined Watson Wyatt (later sold to Eckler) as a business consultant, where he retired in 1994. Bill, aka Poppie, Poppa, and Billy Bob, was a master storyteller, capturing people’s attention with his booming voice and enthusiasm. He was an avid reader, with a love of history. He was a proud past master of St. Andrews Lodge, past president of the Halifax Northwest Rotary Club, a Paul Harris Fellow, and a founding member of the Halifax Probus Club. Extremely proud to wear the Sutherland tartan, Bill was past president of the Atlantic Clan Sutherland and the Federation of Scottish Clans in Nova Scotia. He was also a member of the Kilted Choir of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Dartmouth. Bill loved his family and extended family, all of whom will miss his big bear hugs. He will be deeply missed by his devoted wife Mary Elizabeth (Hood); his children, Lynn (Roger Dool), Mt. Albert, ON; George (Sandy), Calgary, AB; Blaine (Maureen Stapleton), Calgary, AB; Lisa Keeping (Doug Brown), Waterloo, ON; and his grandchildren, Kelsey (Natasha) Mott, Ottawa, ON, Christian, Ottawa, ON; Alex, Calgary, AB; Lauren, Calgary, AB; Ryan (Lisa Mei Luo), Victoria, BC; and Norah and Luke Keeping Brown, Waterloo, ON. Also left to mourn him are his brother Don (Ruth), New Glasgow; his sisters Alice (John), Eureka and Ruth (Brian) Clark, Moncton, NB; brothers-in-law Walter Murray, Lower Barney’s River and Dannie (Barbara) Hood, Amherst; sisters-in-law, Barbara Sutherland, Halifax and Diane Rauh, New Glasgow; many adoring nieces and nephews; and the mother of his children, Rose (Fraser) Sutherland, Palm Harbor, FL. In addition to his parents, Bill was predeceased by his brother, Edward Sutherland, and his sister, Margaret Murray. His companion Tess, a miniature schnauzer, will miss him terribly. There will be a void in all of our lives. Visitation will take place at A. L. Mattatall Funeral Home, Portland St., Dartmouth on Saturday Dec. 29, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM and 6:00 to 8:00 PM. A Masonic service will be held at 6 PM. A Memorial service will be held on Sunday Dec. 30, 2:30 PM, at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, School St., Dartmouth, Rev. Dr. P. A. "Sandy" Mcdonald officiating, followed by a reception in the church hall. Internment will take place later in the year at Glen Bard Cemetery, Marshy Hope, Antigonish County. Donations in Bill’s memory can be made to the Psoriasis Society of Canada and The Lung Association of Nova Scotia. Online condolences may be viewed or sent to:www.mattatallfuneralhome.com

To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die. - Thomas Campbell