Obituary of Alexander Sharpe

It is with great sadness that the family announces the sudden passing of Alexander Graham Sharpe on November 6, 2013. After surviving serious health issues the last 8 years, he died peacefully at home with his wife Dawn by his side. Born on May 18th, 1935 in Fredericton Junction, he was the son of the late Rev. George and Alberta Sharpe. A family friend recently described Alex as “one of a kind - a quiet man who commanded respect and exuded an integrity that is sorely missing in society today. His warmth, good humor, and clear love for his family was a model for those privileged to have known him.” The family would only argue the “quiet” part. Alex was a well known businessman in the Fredericton area whose career was as varied as it was long. In his early years he worked as the Barker’s Point Volunteer Fire Chief, a job he took great pride in. After working for Irving for several years, he ventured out on his own and operated businesses such as The Bargain House, the Clark Street Laundry Mat, Hertz Rent a Car and Dawn to Dusk Builders. He also worked for the Emergency Measures Organization. But without a doubt, the years he enjoyed the most were the years he spent working at J.W. Bird & Co. and Hawkins Real Estate. He found his years in property management particularly rewarding during the latter part of his career. Since his “retirement”, he has had the best job of all – helping son, Allan with Sharpe Builders. Alex was a man who liked to get things done, so it is no surprise that his hobbies – his love of flying, his love of music, especially country and gospel, his love of church, and his love for helping others, often involved serving at organizational levels. He is a past Atlantic Zone Director of the Royal Canadian Flying Club Association, a past President of the Canadian Owners & Pilots Association, and past President of the Fredericton Flying Club. For years he helped organize the Robertson’s Point Blue Grass Festival, and if there was anything musical going on near or far, he could be counted on in any way to make it happen. As an active member of the Maugerville Baptist Church for decades, he has served on numerous committees. He has also been involved in Main Street Business Development, and he has been a driving force behind the David Hawkins Annual Memorial Golf Tournament for the last 15 years – his way of honouring his dear friend. Alex is a past President of the Fredericton Home Builders Association and one of the original members of Capitol (Progressive) Credit Union where he has served on numerous committees. Always interested in politics, Alex worked behind the scenes for the Progressive Conservative Party – both at the provincial and the federal level - for decades. He is also a member of Frank’s Finer Diner Liar’s Club. Although Alex was neither a hunter nor a fisherman, he loved the time he spent with his friends over the years at hunting and fishing camps on the Miramichi. In recent decades he took great pleasure in outings with the boys at “The True Retreat” on the Portobello. While he never claimed to be a marksman, there were several “victims of lucky shots” over the years, and he never tired of impressing his sons and grandsons (and anyone else at the camp) with his skeet shooting skills! A long time resident of Maugerville, Alex was an avid river watcher every spring, and he enjoyed keeping records of weather and water levels. There was nothing he would not do to support friends and neighbors during time of need during floods or any other crisis. The same was true of the 40 plus wonderful years he spent with his family at their cottage at Robertson’s Point on Grand Lake. Family was everything to Alex, and he was the patriarch of a large clan. He leaves behind his extraordinarily devoted wife of 48 years, Dawn (Bishop) who personifies the vows “in sickness and in health”; and his 7 children: Steven (Leah), Brian (Patricia), Clinton (Anna), Allan (Carole), Robyn (Keith Allaby), Christopher (Jeanne), all of Fredericton, and Andy (Caroline) of Annapolis Royal, N.S.; and grandchildren Angela Spragg (Adam), Mindy Thornton (Mark), Brent Sharpe (Lori), Kim Power (Adam), Kelly Landry (Matt), Kevin Marshall – Steven’s children, Taryn Courturier ((Mathieu) - Brian’s daughter, Krista Garnett (Adam) and Jason Sharpe – Clinton’s children, Jeremy (Karen), Kelsie (Tommy) and Nicole Sharpe – Allan’s children, Nicholas and Michaela Allaby – Robyn’s children, Cole and Logan Sharpe and Bradley and Shana Sampson – Chris’s children & step-children, and Alexandra Hancock – Andy’s daughter, as well as eleven great grandchildren. Alex is also survived by his sister Ruth Denton (Kingsley) of Digby, and her children Bill, Marilyn, Ronnie & Robbie. He was a special uncle to nephew Captain Bill Denton (Bev), and nieces Barbara Kierstead and Debbie Ernst (Fred) all of Halifax and Marilyn Ireland (Dennis) of N.H. He thoroughly enjoyed the weekly phone calls & many visits over the years. In addition to his parents, Alex was predeceased by his brother William, his sister Eileen and granddaughter Janelle. Alex deeply valued his many friends, and he never took them for granted. He truly knew that to have a friend, one has to be a friend – in good times and bad. Honorary pall bearers are Peter Atkinson, Garry Aylward, Bud Bird, Bert Bates, Burleigh Bates, Charles Harvey, Liz Hawkins, Ernie McLean, Nan Watt and Ebbie Wilkins. The family would like to thank Dr. Anne Collins for her compassion, dedicated care and extreme patience in dealing with an often cantankerous patient. Your professionalism and kindness is greatly appreciated. Thanks as well to the wonderful nurses at Extra Mural for your love and care over the years. Visitation will take place at York Funeral Home, 302 Brookside Drive from 2-4 and 7-9 on Sunday, Nov. 10th. The Funeral Service will be held on Monday, Nov. 11th at 1:00 from York Funeral Home’s T. Gordon MacLeod Memorial Chapel followed by a reception. Interment will take place at Maugerville Cemetery. If desired, donations may be made to the Maugerville Baptist Cemetery, the Maugerville Baptist Church Building Fund, the Heart and Stroke Foundation or to the charity of the donor’s choice. Personal condolences may be offered through www.yorkfh.com