DONOVAN, Captain Brian Edward

Family and friends of Captain Brian Edward Donovan will be gathering at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron, 2308 Purcells Cove Rd., on Friday, September 17, at 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., to celebrate the very full life of Brian, who died on February 19 of this year.

Brian was born in Moncton on March 18, 1952, the son of Mary and Bill Donovan. Brian was an altar boy and quietly kept his Catholic faith until the end. His mother enrolled him in École Ste-bernadette, knowing ― no doubt recognizing his gift of the gab at an early age ― that one language was not enough for Brian. Fluently bilingual, he moved on to Bessborough School and then Harrison Trimble High, where he graduated in 1971.

Brian was an industrious young lad, mowing lawns, shovelling driveways, delivering newspapers, sweeping chimneys, working at the CNR shops, tending bar and waiting on tables at the Golden Mile Tavern. Generous and always enterprising, he stepped in to assist those who faced discrimination at the doors of certain establishments, discrimination on the basis of age. After a time, the green liquor IDS manufactured by Brian became so well known that some licensed establishments in Moncton would not accept the real ones.

After high school, Brian’s mother took things in hand again. She enrolled him in St. Mary’s University and didn’t tell him until he was accepted and had to “be in Halifax by Monday.” He made lifelong friends at SMU and graduated with a degree in accounting.

He worked with Revenue Canada as a tax auditor, then changed direction and went into sales and management with Chateau-gai Wines. After that, he worked for a couple of decades with Oland Brewery. He was described by someone well-placed in the industry as “the most successful liquor salesperson in Nova Scotia.”

Brian had always loved boats, and he bought his first sailboat in 1979. Sailing became a favourite activity for him and his beloved wife, Alene “Bik” Delaney Donovan. He studied to meet the Canada Transport Marine Competency requirements, and qualified as a marine captain. From then on, he was Captain Brian Donovan, a.k.a. Captain Eddie.

He joined the RNSYS in 1979 and was a long-time member of the Halifax Chapter of The Canadian Progress Club.

In 2003, Brian established Premier Marine Services Ltd. He was respected throughout the sailing world as someone who could provide any service required, on land or sea, at a moment’s notice. He could get you a repairman for your yacht, tickets to the theatre, a limo in Toronto, or a supply of food before you sailed into the Northwest Passage.

With courage and high spirits that the rest of us can only imagine, Brian announced his final cancer diagnosis as a “one-way ticket”, a way out of the life-altering difficulties with which he had been coping. Brian had survived Hodgkin’s Disease in the late 1970s, and another bout of cancer a few years ago. He also survived an accident on his boat. While doing repairs, he broke his neck, and was immobilized for a considerable time in a halo brace. Then, in 2015, he was one of the passengers on the plane that hit the ground short of the runway in a blizzard at Halifax International Airport. He walked away from that. But a couple of years later the worst happened. He had heart surgery and, during the operation, he suffered a stroke. It left him without the use of both hands. Brian’s fortitude in the face of all this earned him many compliments, including this one: “You are the toughest guy I’ve ever known.” This from a fellow well familiar with tough guys. We’ll say no more.

In the months after his terminal illness was diagnosed, he welcomed friends to his Halifax home with a sign on the door: “Smile! No sad faces allowed.” He had a terrific caregiver, Kimberly, a Newfoundlander who was well able to keep up the battle of wits with Brian. Kimberly made sure the “no sad faces” rule was obeyed. Brian had so many friends that appointments for visits had to be scheduled days in advance. During these visits, Brian lived up to his Irish heritage: a great storyteller to the end, he treated you to rollicking tales of his adventures and the characters he has known, and he’d have you laughing till the tears came.

Brian was predeceased by his wife and soulmate Bik, and by his parents and sister, Karen (Robichaud). He is survived by his brothers Michael and Kevin (Cindy Cudmore), and his Delaney in-laws.

Brian lived life to the fullest, and that life will be celebrated in fine style at the yacht club where he spent so many wonderful years.