Norman Paul McNeill

Visitation will be at JA Snow Funeral Home on Friday, July 28th between the hours of 2-4pm and 7-9pm with funeral service held at 10am on Saturday, July 29th, 2017 at St. Peter’s Church, Dartmouth.

Norman was born in Inverness on July 8th, 1944. The first grandchild of a large Cape Breton mining family, he was adored by his many aunts who lovingly called him “Bumpy” due to his clumsy ways. Norman’s early days were spent playing in piles of coal dust with his beloved dog Butch, sneaking blueberry pies off windowsills and hitching rides in the mail truck up to Margaree to spend summers at his great-grandparent’s farm.

When he was ten, his family moved to Pictou, where he filled his days with rugby, hockey and baseball and was a proud recipient of the Queen’s Scout award. He graduated from Pictou Academy (63’) and from StFX University (BBA 70’) where he was known as “Hoddie” to his friends. He was also the cartoonist for the Xavarian Weekly an early example of his lifelong interest in drawing and painting.

After university, the job Norman took at the RBC would turn into a rewarding 37-year career. It was while he was posted at the Yarmouth branch of the RBC that he met his future wife, Dianne Pothier. Their first date was a Christmas dance and they were married on November 13, 1971 at St. Ambrose Cathedral. It was the beginning of a marriage that would span the next 45 years.

The newlyweds started a family as Norman was transferred from coast to coast over the next several years with stops in Montreal and Vancouver. Upon their return to Halifax in 1978, they moved into their family home for the next 37 years in Crichton Park, Dartmouth.

Norman’s first child, Matthew, was born with an intellectual disability and when he and Dianne discovered the lack of support available, a lifetime of advocacy began. While an active member of the Progress Club, Norman cofounded the Early Intervention Centre, which helped coordinate the many needs of children like Matthew and their families. He was also an active member and President of the CACL (Canadian Association of Community Living), a group dedicated to helping people with intellectual disabilities live meaningful lives and contribute as full citizens.

Norman was also one of the founders of Integration Action, an advocacy group that helped children with intellectual disabilities integrate into the school system. Matthew was one of the the pioneers of this integration effort. Most recently, while on the DASC (Dartmouth Adult Services Centre) Board, Norman was Chair of the Building Committee where he played a key role in the creation of their new, state-of-the-art facility.

Norman was a clever, generous and curious man with a wealth of knowledge about world history and his heritage. He was an enthusiastic traveller and undertook adventures with family and friends across North America, Europe and the Caribbean. Undaunted by illness, last summer, he took the trip of a lifetime to the Greek Islands.

A talented painter, a scotch whisky aficionado and a skilled fly-fisherman, Norman looked forward to enjoying these pastimes during frequent trips to his family home in the Margaree Valley with his family and old fishing buddies.

Above all, Norman was a proud father and caring husband, who adored, and endlessly indulged, his grandchildren. He is survived by his wife, Dianne (Pothier); three children, Matthew, Paul and Sarah; mother, Faye (Macdonald); sister, Winnie (Chisholm); son-in-law Mark Williams, and three grandchildren, Owen, Isaac and Alexis.

Norman is preceded in death by his father, Paul, a kind man he greatly admired; and also by his sister, Gerry (Rankin).

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to DASC (Dartmouth Adult Services Centre) where his son, Mathew, works: 59 Dorey Ave, Dartmouth, NS B3B 0B2, (902) 468-6606.

The family of Norman McNeill wishes to thank the staff of 8A at the VG Hospital and the ICU Dartmouth General for their care and compassion.