Obituary of Thomas M. McAlpine

The death of Thomas Mearns McAlpine, husband of the late Marion Elizabeth (Betty) (née McKendrick) occurred at the Turnbull Nursing Home on 28 May 2010. Born 26 May 1922 in Glasgow, Scotland, in his paternal grandmother’s walk-up flat, he was the youngest of two sons, born to the late Margaret (née Mearns) and Donald Fraser McAlpine. He was a good student, showing particular aptitude in mathematics, and was usually near the top of his class. His first job, at age 10, was delivering newspapers; at 12 he was selling milk and newspapers for the Farmers’ Dairy Company via a hand-cart he pulled about the streets of Glasgow. As was customary at the time, Tom left school at 15. He then entered the employment of A & J. Main, Structural Engineers and Fencing Contractors, Glasgow, serving first as an office boy in the Fencing Department before starting a 5 year apprenticeship as a structural draftsman. During this apprenticeship he began a night school program at the Royal Technical College of Glasgow (now the University of Strathclyde), receiving his Certificate in Mechanical Engineering from that institution in 1946, and his National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering the following year. At the outbreak of WW II Tom applied to join the Air Force, as his older brother had. However, much to his regret he was diagnosed with high blood pressure and rejected; as well, by then A & J Main were building railway cars for the war effort and his work was deemed a reserved occupation. Thus, he spent the war years in the Home Guard. In 1949, with colleague Dave McTaggart, Tom booked a 6-day passage from Southhampton, England, on the RMS Aquitania, following friends Jim Beatty and Bruce Hogarth to Canada to join the Saint John Shipbuilding and Drydock Company. Tom remained with the Drydock until 1959, serving as Chief Draftsman from 1956 onwards. In 1952 Tom met Betty McKendrick on the greens at the Westfield Golf & Country Club; they married in 1954. Although they finally settled in Betty’s family home on Duke Street in Saint John, the centre of family life was the summer cottage at Epworth Park, overlooking the Saint John River. Close to the golf course, and with plenty of scope for renovations, Tom was able to pursue an interest in building decks, removing walls, and solving plumbing problems, often with his equally eager younger son, Roy, in tow. His older son, Donald, had other interests, but Tom dutifully assisted, climbing trees to retrieve bird nests, mounting butterflies, dissecting moles and turning his carpentry skills to cabinetry to house a growing natural history collection. A rowboat, built in the basement one winter and eventually equipped with a small outboard motor, allowed both boys to explore and become familiar with the lower Saint and Kennebecasis Rivers. In 1960 Tom joined the Consolidated Steel Company, Saint John with responsibilities for reinforced steel (1960-1962) and structural steel (1963-1964), serving as both Head of Drafting, and Assistant Office Manager of the Company. In 1968 Tom became the 5th member accredited as an Engineering Technologist under the New Brunswick Society of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists. In 1964 Tom joined the Truscon Steel Company, manufacturers of steel joists, roof decking and reinforcing, and a subsidiary of the Montreal-based Dominion Steel and Coal Company. Tom remained with Truscon until retiring in 1979. Until Betty’s death in 1992, Tom and Betty were able to travel widely, were active members of the Saint John Naturalists’ Club, Fundy Lawn Bowling Club, and Centenary Queen Square United Church, and volunteered with meals-on-wheels, the South End Food basket, and the Centenary Adult Daycare. Later, sharing a home in Grand Bay-Westfield with son Roy and family and with Donald and family close by, Tom was able to participate in the lives of his grandchildren and watch with some pride as they grew to become fine young adults. Tom had a stroke on 23 May; although he wasn’t able to communicate afterward, he was quietly determined to last until the age of 88, “a nice round number” he had remarked with some pride the week before. With family on hand, a cake was cut in the wee hours of May 26th and Tom got his birthday wishes. Never one to be rushed (Betty could never understand why it took Tom 2 years to propose; she said she knew in 6 months), Tom then followed a peaceful, but meandering path to the river. Tom’s family would like to thank the staff and administrators of the Turnbull Home, whose excellent care and warm and friendly atmosphere provided Tom with the support he needed in his last months. Tom is survived by two sons, Donald (Lynne) and Roy (Danielle) and four grandchildren, Amber, Fenning, Justin and Alex, all of Grand Bay-Westfield, as well as several nieces and their families resident in Scotland. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Brenan’s Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John (634-7424). A private family memorial service will be held at a later date with interment at Fernhill Cemetery. Donations in Tom’s memory may be made to the Nature Trust of New Brunswick Blueberry Hill Nature Preserve (www.naturetrust.nb; P.O. Box 603, Station A, Fredericton, NB, E3B 5A6).