Vincent Joseph Campbell

Age 63, of Halifax, born July 19, 1958, passed away on November 14, 2021 at Victoria General Hospital. Born in Halifax, Vincent was the son of Vincent Alexander (Sandy) Campbell, Sydney, and Andrea (MacIvor) Campbell. From a young age, Vincent displayed a love of the sea, and, despite having suffered a very serious head injury as a child, he was able to have an active and remarkable life. He joined the Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps (RCSCC) at Sydney and went on several summer training camps at Cornwallis, learning parade, sailing, and leadership skills. Thereafter attended the Nova Scotia Nautical Institute (Pier 21) for his Bridge Watch Rating Certificate, learning seamanship, mooring, cargo maintenance, and anchorage. Vince also learned bridge team duties, including that of helmsman, his favourite duty. His first ship was Sir William Alexander, a Canadian Coast Guard ship, followed by Louis S. St. Laurent. Both ships were familiar to Vincent who had seen them breaking ice in Sydney harbour throughout his childhood. Like many Nova Scotian mariners, he sailed on the Gypsum Duchess, coming into the Bay of Fundy at Hantsport. He also sailed on the Seaway Trader, a coastal tanker, and the Canadian Progress,(AKA Algoma Progress) a bulk carrier. On the Rowan Gorilla 3 he had a short stint as a fireman, standing by to put out any fires started by the welders. When his career at sea ended, he came ashore and worked for several landscape companies and many other different jobs over the years. He was always a very hard worker and exceptionally strong throughout his life.

Vincent had a life-long love of music of all kinds, beginning with Scottish ballads and Irish songs of rebellion. He naturally embraced pipe music, in which he was instructed by pipe majors Francis MacKenzie and Danny MacIntyre. But he also enjoyed big band and later shared a love for dixieland with his neighbour and friend Peter Power. Proving his eclectic taste in music, Vincent was big Beatles fan (their best album was Abby Road, no question) and taught himself guitar to accompany their records. He had a front-row seat when Paul McCartney played in Halifax in 2009. An avid reader since a boy, he loved the Horatio Hornblower novels of C.S. Forester and, later, the novels of Alistair MacLean and Hammond Innes. And it is undisputed that he had read every novel written by Clive Cussler.

An unceasingly friendly and outgoing man, Vincent also had a great sense of humour and a wicked knack for the unexpected pun. He brought people a lot of joy by always having a joke at the ready. He was faithful and loyal to friends, among whom he counted Sharon Fiske, Bent Nielsen, Jim and Liz Mahoney, Jimmy Sophocleous, and Jackie Caldwell as his closest. He also had a love of animals, especially dogs. He, his Mum Andrea, and Iona--his last in a long line of four-footed companions--were often seen at Point Pleasant Park and other green spaces where they walked faithfully every day. Vincent took great comfort in church in his life as well as during his illness and attended St. Patrick’s in Halifax.

Vincent is survived by his mother, Andrea; his sisters Katie, Hortense (Gerrit), and Kirsteen (Vernon); his brothers Jonathan (Lindee) and Colin; his stepmother Gina Ross; and half sister Jenni (Gaelan), his uncles and aunts, John & Dolores, Stan & Margaret, Helen MacPherson, Brian, and Sylvia; cousins Susan, Mary, Archie, Flora, Peter, Jennifer, Tom, Mary Ann and Christie; nieces Bijoux, Tlell and Zoe; and nephews Colin Daniel, Oscar,Leo and Darcy. Our sister Katie did much for Vince during his illness and in the hospital, Oscar Campbell and Amber Tucker were a great source of comfort. The family would also like to thank the compassionate nurses on 5A at the Victoria General and the staff of the Dixon Medical Centre for overseeing Vincent’s medical care.

Cremation will take place with a viewing on November 27, from 2-5 pm at Cruickshank's Funeral Home on 2666 Windsor Street in Halifax. A private ceremony will follow in Cape Breton where Vincent will rest nearby the Bras d'Or Lakes, next to his father and other members of the Campbell clan who have gone before.

Memorial donations to the Brain Injury Association of Nova Scotia (BIANS) would be appreciated.

Slainte mhor agus (To your great health)

cum suas do mhisneach (Keep the faith)