Howard Hugh Mackinnon

MacKINNON, Howard Hugh 1928-2019 Howard Hugh MacKinnon, 91, of Glace Bay, NS, passed into the presence of his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ on October 11, 2019 at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital. Born in Halifax and raised in Louisburg and Glace Bay (from age 5), he was the son of the late James Hugh MacKinnon and Bertha (Gillingham) MacKinnon. Graduating from Glace Bay High School, Normal College and Mount Allison University, he was employed as an educator for 34 years and served as Principal of Donkin-Morien District High School (1965-71) and Morrison Glace Bay High School (1971-85). He took great pleasure in hearing of the successes of his students. He served and provided leadership in many areas in the fields of education, sports and community, including chief reader of the Provincial Marking Board, president of the Cape Breton Headmasters Association, board of directors of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (forerunner of Hockey Canada), vice president of the Maritime Amateur Hockey Association, chair of the NS High School Hockey Federation, president of the Glace Bay Miners Forum, chairman of the Glace Bay Recreation Commission and vice president of the Glace Bay Minor Hockey Association. He was a regional scout for the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1961-67 and coached in almost every category of minor hockey (mostly high school) as well as other sports including rugby, guiding a number of his teams to provincial and local championships. He wrote a popular sports column for both the Highlander and Coastal Courier newspapers. He was inducted into the Cape Breton Sports Hall of Fame in June of 2017. As co-founder and President of the Glace Bay Historical Society, he actively promoted Glace Bay as the birthplace of international radio and contributed to the establishment of the Old Town Hall Museum, the Marconi Museum and Marconi Trail designation. He also served in a number of leadership positions in Knox United Church. After his retirement he co-operated the Eastern Gazette newspaper and later, a bookstore. Above all was his love for his family who he led by exemplifying a love of learning, a strong work ethic, a sense of justice, fairness and honesty. His favourite students were his sons, followed by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In return he was greatly loved by his family who will miss his humour, stories, strength, wisdom and his special treat, root beer floats. Surviving are his wife of 61 years, Ruth (MacVicar) and sons Howard (Jane Anne) and Eric (Pauline), sister, May MacDonald; sister-in-law, Audrey (Michael) Butler; grandchildren, Amy (Steve) Day, Ashley (Chad) Quist, Alec (Tyria) MacKinnon, Laura MacKinnon, Lianne (Caleb) Settle, Angela (Alex) Pattison and Heather MacKinnon, as well as five great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents Howard was predeceased by sisters, Christine MacLellan, Flora Cann and Johneva Shea and brothers, John, Clarence and Thomas. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 16, from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. with funeral service on Thursday, October 17 at 2 p.m. at Patten’s Funeral Home, Glace Bay, NS, with Pastor Eric MacKinnon officiating. Interment in Forest Haven Memorial Gardens, Grand Lake Road, Cape Breton. Donations in Howard’s memory may be made to: The Gideons, The Canadian Bible Society, The Bible League or the charity of your choice. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.”