August 12, 1938 - November 20, 2020
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of John Duncan MacMaster on Friday, November 20th, 2020 after a battle with cancer.
John was born August 12th, 1938 in Sydney, Nova Scotia, the eldest of four brothers.
John is survived by his loving wife of 60 years Lois; his brother Edward and wife Karen (Dartmouth NS), sons and daughters in-law: John and Leanne, Kevin and Patti along with his four grand-children Alison, Kelly, Nathan and Tanner who were his pride and joy. He was predeceased by his parents and his brothers, Leo and Charles.
John grew up in Sydney and attended St. Francis Xavier University to become a teacher. During his 1st teaching job in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia he met and married Lois They decided to fly west for a teaching opportunity in Rossland, B.C. during the summer of 1961.
He spent the next 40 years as a teacher, coach and counsellor. Except for a year (1969) teaching in Schefferville Quebec, he taught at Rossland Secondary School. 'Mr. Mac' was highly regarded by the generations of students he taught.
Many of his students became life-long friends. While transitioning into retirement, he served 3 terms as a Rossland city council member. He was also called on well into retirement, to help tutor students in math.
He loved living in Rossland and while he enjoyed activities like curling, hockey, golf, skiing and fishing, he always put his family first and was either coaching or driving his kids to their sporting events.
Over the past few years, he remained an avid golfer at Redstone and enjoyed many road trips to Calgary to watch his grandsons play hockey or his granddaughters dance. He could also be found most mornings at the Prestige Hotel with his many friends having coffee while solving the world's problems.
Due to COVID-19 a memorial service is not scheduled at this time. We hope to have a celebration of life in the near future. Andreas Schmitz of Alternatives Funeral and Cremation ServicesTM has been entrusted with arrangements.
As an expression of sympathy, please consider donating to a local charity of your choice in John's honour.
You are invited to leave a personal message of condolence at the family's online register at https://www.myalternatives.ca/rossland/obituaries. If you wish to be contacted about the celebration of life, please also leave your email address.