John Stuart Underhill

John Stuart Underhill of Halifax died on May 1, 2024 after living several years with colon cancer. John was the oldest son of the late Gerry and Wendy (Bigelow) Underhill of Victoria, BC. Born in Vancouver, he grew up on the “poor end” of Beach Drive in Victoria, attending Oak Bay High School before graduating from St. Michael’s University School.

John had wonderful memories of spending his teen years in Sea Cadets with RCSCC Rainbow (Victoria), RCSCC Admiral Budge (Sidney) and including four glorious summers at HMCS Quadra in Comox, allowing him to make lifelong friends and sparking an interest in the Navy. Following in his father’s footsteps, he joined the Naval Reserve to “see the world” and was promptly rewarded with summer training at the Canadian Forces School of Music in nearby Esquimalt. Transferring to the Regular Officer Training Plan, he graduated from the University of Victoria, completed naval officer training, and was appointed to HMCS Margaree, based in Halifax. John’s later Naval appointments included Air Control Officer and Communications Officer in HMCS Athabaskan (Canada’s flagship for Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm), Honorary Aide-de-Camp to two Lieutenant Governors, and Executive Officer of HMC Ships Glace Bay and Moncton.

Although John was justifiably proud of his naval service, he was immensely grateful that it led him to the love of his life, his wife, Sandra Williams, with whom he would spend the next 36 years. Together they raised two wonderful children, Jack, and Alannah, by far the greatest of John’s achievements.

John graduated from Dalhousie Law School (Class of 1995) but wasn’t the first of his family to do so, his great grandfather having been a member of the Class of 1896! His second career spanned three decades, all in public service with the NS Legal Aid Commission and the NS Department of Justice. His work at Justice was nothing like the fancy law offices of television and movies, but John took great satisfaction in advising and appearing in court with both child and adult protection social workers. He was an active volunteer with both the NS Barristers Society and the Canadian Bar Association and served several years on the Board of the Legal Information Society of NS. John’s hard work and contributions to the legal profession were recognized in 2020 with his appointment as Queen’s (now King’s) Counsel or “one of Her Majesty’s Counsel Learned in the Law”.

John involved himself as much as possible in his children’s lives, and one of his greatest joys was volunteering in their many activities, whether as ringette timekeeper or soccer team manager or even manning the “chains” on the sidelines of Jack’s football games. For many years he was a leader with Scouts Canada, and over ten years he coached both children’s hockey teams. That led to him taking up hockey himself at age 50, conclusively proving the old adage about old dogs and new tricks, but also providing him with healthy exercise (and his teammates with endless amusement!)

John’s true passion was making music, and he played the trumpet in many ensembles for most of his life. He was fortunate enough to perform with the Naden Band as BC welcomed (then) Prince Charles and Princess Diana to EXPO 86, and to parade with the Royal Roads Military College Band when HM Queen Elizabeth II visited Victoria in 1983. He served as founding President and Director of the Halifax Concert Band Society for over ten years and played trumpet with the band from 1995 until his death. John was a part of the music ministry at Saint John the Baptist (now Stella Maris) Parish. In recent years, he also played with Terminal Road, a rock band consisting of Justice lawyers; the Atlantic Sound Machine, a big band featuring local talent; and the Royal NS International Tattoo, where he did double duty coordinating the fanfare trumpets and playing cornet with the North American Brass Band Summer School.

John is survived by his beloved wife Sandra, his children Jack and Alannah, his sister Jennifer (Arthur), his brother Paul (Sandra), nieces Kyla, Katy, and nephew Adam (Kelly) of Victoria and his Aunt Gina (Jensen Beach, Florida)

The family would like to extend its deepest thanks to their family, friends and the many doctors and nurses at the VG and Dalhousie Family Medicine, in particular, Drs. Karen McNeil, Stephanie Snow, nurses Beth, and Monica for the wonderful care that John received over these past few years.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 30 from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm at JA Snow funeral home, 339 Lacewood Drive, Halifax, Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, May 31,11 am at Stella Maris Parish, 14 St. Michael’s Avenue, Halifax. Reception/Celebration of John’s life will follow at the Saraguay House, 2308 Purcells Cove Road from 2-4:30 pm. Burial at sea will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

“I shall be telling this with a sigh somewhere ages and age hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference.”