LAING – Albert B., 85, of Milton, Queens County, passed away peacefully in Shoreham Village, Chester on Tuesday, September 1, 2015.
Born in Western Shore, he was a son of the late Murray and Lucy (Zwicker) Laing.
Albert graduated from Liverpool High School in 1949 and served with the RCAF and the Navy. He served a 4 year apprenticeship at HMC Halifax dockyard and certified as a machinist journeyman and two years later as an instrument technician. He held a vocational teachers license and 35 classifications and certificates related to courses taken in various colleges such as the University of Toronto, Dalhousie University, St. Mary’s University, Geneva Park and Moncton. He taught apprenticeship classes, trade and technology classes and was promoted to Co-ordinator of Trades Training of Apprentices and 15 trades with the Nova Scotia Department of Education at Nova Scotia Institute of Technology, Stellarton, Springhill and North Sydney. He was responsible for creating a working model of the off shore oil rig Rowan Gorilla which toured Canada. He retired in 1985.
Albert was involved in sports and coached a junior softball team in Milton in 1948 – 1949 that went to the Nova Scotia Jr. Finals. He played softball and hockey after moving to Dartmouth in 1951 and later managed and coached. He has played at least 75 to 90 games of golf every year since 1959.
He has been an amateur artist/painter since 1964 painting many scenes of Queens County, the South Shore and other parts of Nova Scotia especially small fishing ports and harbours. He donated over 20 paintings a year for auction or raffle to support organizations such as fire departments, schools, recreation and seniors groups. He has also painted many lighthouses along the shore and donated them to “Save The Lighthouses” program in Queens County.
In addition to his sports and painting, Albert found time to serve as a mason and as master mason for three consecutive years with Prince of Wales Lodge #29 AF&AM, Milton. He served on the Nova Scotia Family and Child Welfare Association for twelve years and spent 25 years on the Queens County Children and Family Services Board; three years as president.
He served on Queens County Council for 15 years and on the Region of Queens Council with terms of Deputy Warden and later as Deputy Mayor.
He is survived by his children George (Loni) of Charleston; Lori (Peter) Jones of Lower Sackville; Robert (Joley) of Lower Sackville. Five grandchildren; sister Sharon Drolet of Lower Sackville and brother Ronald (Pat) of St. Thomas, ON.
He was predeceased by his wife Shirley (Martin); son David and brothers Victor, Floyd, Burton, Murray and James.
Cremation has taken place under the direction of Chandlers’ Funeral Home, Liverpool. There will be no funeral service at Albert’s request. Burial will take place at a later date in Milton Community Cemetery. No flowers by request, donations may be made to a charity of your choice. Online condolences may be made to www.chandlersfuneral.com
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irving whynot
Sorry to hear about Albert,He will be missed
Peggy and Richard Hatt
Dear Laing Family .
Richard and I would like to express our deepest sympathies on the loss of your dad and grand dad..He led a most interesting and full life . Albert was a very kind and generous man ,always friendly whenever we met . He will be a great loss to all that knew him …Sincerely Peggy and Richard
Kim mansfield
So sorry to hear of Alberts passing. ..always enjoyed talking with him. Thoughts and prayers are with you all
Tony and Kathleen Rafuse
George, Loni and family, so very sorry for your loss. He was a great person and really enjoyed working with him over the years. Take care.
Belinda Wentzell Delong
To all of Albert,s Family,my thoughts and prayers are with each of you at this sad time.Albert was a very gifted man,he had painted picture,s of the Bluenose of 1986 in Liverpool harbor,painting of a picture of Upper Great Brook ,Ten mile and bought others he had done.Town Site held memories good and bad for us that spent yrs. and or summers there.Albert and I talked alot about a tragic event we each went through.Different time,s and different places.Albert was a great man I will always remember out chats.God Bless Him and Now may he RIP
Viv Croft
Sending my condolences to the Laing family.
Darlene Prosser
What an extaordinary man! No more pain EB! Fly away at peace now with Shirley ! Thanks , George and Loni , for all you have done. EB lives on in all his grandchildren, one of whom loves her teaching job. My Sympathy’s to the Laing family.
Fred and Wendy Wamboldt
George and family,
So very sorry to hear of your fathers passing. Always enjoyed talking painting with Albert. He gave me many great hints about oil painting. Attended a few art shows with him and always had a great time. He will surely be missed. Our sincere condolences and sympathy to the entire family. God bless you all.
Fred and Wendy
Linda & Robert Trainor
To the Laing Family,
So sorry to hear of your loss. Robert played many games of golf with your DAD. Albert also was on the team who hired me for F&C Services. He also encouraged & introduced me to oil painting. So I am very thankful to have had your DAD in my life. Take Care & GOD Bless!
Linda & Robert
Ron and Pat Laing
We would like to thank Bob Lynch for all the times he took Albert to the hospitals and visiting him at shoreholm in Chester.Bob and Albert have been friends for a very long time,he was Al very best friend.Thanks Bob very much
Robert and Lorraine Quinn
Albert and I served together on the Queens District School Board in the 1980’s; I as an administrator, he as the Municipal appointment to the Board. Being educators, we both spoke the same language and understood each other. I doubt the children and their parents fully knew the important role he played in their educational lives in the schools. Albert had the ability to cut through language and get to the essence of every resolution, and he always voted putting the children first. Lorraine and I wish to extend our sincere condolences to the Laing family during this time of sadness.
Doreen Cormier
My sincerest sympathies to the Laing family. Thinking of all of you
love Doreen
Marie Lamrock
Am so sorry to hear of Albert’s passing. I enjoyed working with Albert at the Region of Queens. He had many interesting stories to tell and I admired his paintings. I was fortunate enough to have been given paintings by Albert – enough to have one in each room of my house. He will be greatly missed.
Cathie Pincombe
To Albert’s Family
We are very sorry to hear of Albert’s passing. He was a big supporter of our efforts to save and preserve our lighthouses. He very generously donated his paintings as fundraisers for a number of years. We enjoyed seeing him come out to our art shows. He always had a little grin on his face as he chatted about his paintings. We will miss him in our art community.
Our sincere condolences to the entire family.
Cathie Pincombe, on behalf of the members of the Lighthouse Awareness Art Show
Karen and Bob Barnes
We wish to send our heartfelt condolences to all of Mr. Laing’s family. May God comfort and keep you in your time of sorrow.
Shirley & Paul Shot
To Albert’s family: It is always sad when we lose someone we have cared so deeply about, especially a father.
I’m sure the many stories and memories you have of your dad will continue to warm your heart and make you smile.
Bruce and Melanie Inglis
We are sorry to hear of Albert’s passing. He was a real gentleman who stood up and took action for the things he cared about. His many talents will be missed by our community.
Eddie and Evie Fisher
Sending our condolence to the Laing family
Caron and Larry Burns and family
I wanted to extend my sincere thoughts to Albert’s family during this difficult time. I knew Albert for many years and respected and admired him for all the work he did to support the residents and community at large in the region of Queens. Along the journey we became great friends and in many respects my husband and children considered Albert family. Albert taught me to paint like so many others. Many of my first few paintings were terrible but Albert was always so kind in giving helpful tips so that I could stay positive and move forward. I will miss our many chats and time together and the laughter. Rest in peace my dear friend.
TJ Armstrong
To Albert’s Family and Bob Lynch:
I’m very sorry to hear of Albert’s passing – he was an all time great and I’ll miss the laughs he always managed to get out of me.
TJ
Alex MacRae
To the Laing Family,
Sincere condolences on the loss of Al. We worked together for many years, as I taught carpentry at the NSIT. I also want to express my sympathy on the loss of David. He had been one of my students and he was a fine young man.
Sincerely,
Alex MacRae
Rev Jen Garbin
Thank you for sharing your father and grandfather with my family and I for the number of years we spent in Nova Scotia and even after we came back to Ontario a few years back. He was a faithful elder, past chair of the board, and long-time member of the Milton Christian Church and was a trusted friend. He introduced me to painting and we spent many of my days off in the upstairs studio working on various things. Had some amazing conversations with Ab…deep subjects that caused him much pain, but also his great dreams and hopes for all of his family and community. He loved you all so much. I consider myself blessed to have known him and will miss his yearly call at Christmas time. He was always asking about our children and was so proud of the people they were becoming. Thank you, Ab, for being the wonderful person you were – a great teacher, a man of profound faith, stubborn, honest, and a great story-teller. We will miss you. love always – Jen, Gianni, Rita and Victor xo
Eric & Vonna Walker
To the Laing Family
Our sincere condolences to the family and all those who knew Albert. Eric and Ab were friends for many, many years. Both of our families spent time together in Dartmouth and then moved back to Milton where we continued our friendship. His calls for assistance never went unattended. His friendship will be greatly missed. Eric & Vonna Walker